Vehicle recalls and investigations are facing major electric vehicle (EV) makers worldwide, according to Reuters. The EV makers are facing challenges after a series of fires from overheating batteries in vehicles across the world. Here is the list of companies that have so far been highlighted:
- Hyundai Motors
- Hyundai is expanding a recall of its top-selling EVs to at least 74,000 in South Korea, Europe, the U.S., and Canada to update its battery management system.
- In about two years, Hyundai has faced 16 Kona EV fires in Korea, Canada, and Europe.
- Hyundai has blamed EV battery fires on “internal damage to certain cells of the lithium-ion battery increasing the risk of an electrical short circuit.”
- Ford Motors
- Ford recalled 20,500 Kuga plug-in hybrid EVs in Europe and suspended sales over battery fire issues, with seven fires so far reported.
- Ford has identified that a battery-cell contamination issue in its supplier’s production process caused “serious consequences.”
- The company has delayed U.S. EV production until next year to address the concerns.
- BMW
- BMW will recall 4,509 plug-in hybrid EVs in the U.S., citing debris that could enter its battery cells during production, causing short-circuiting and injurious “thermal event.”
- So far, BMW has recalled about 26,000 plug-in hybrids over battery issues.
- Tesla
- Tesla was last year investigated over potential defects in certain Model S and X that could cause non-crash fires in affected battery packs.
Most EV carmakers’ stocks are gaining today. TSLA: NASDAQ is up 1.52% on premarket, XPEV: NYSE is up 0.33% on premarket, NIO: NYSE is down 2.12% on premarket, NKLA: NASDAQ is up 0.64% on premarket, GM: NYSE is up 1.10% on premarket.
