Twenty-four owners of the Mercedes-Benz EQE electric vehicle in Korea have filed a class action lawsuit against the automaker following a fire incident in the underground parking lot of an apartment in Incheon this past August. The lawsuit, filed in the Seoul Central District Court, accuses Mercedes-Benz of false advertising regarding the batteries installed in the EQE, leading to substantial financial and emotional damages for the plaintiffs.
Attorney Ha Jong-sun, representing the plaintiffs, stated, “We have filed a claim for damages with the Seoul Central District Court against seven sales companies, including the German headquarters of Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz Korea, and Han Sung Motor.” The suit also targets two leasing companies, with an initial claim of 10 million won per plaintiff. The claim amount is expected to increase after the Fair Trade Commission concludes its investigation into Mercedes-Benz’s alleged false advertising.
The plaintiffs allege that the EQE models involved in the fire were equipped with Chinese-made Farasis batteries, contrary to Mercedes-Benz’s claims that the vehicles contained batteries from top Chinese manufacturer CATL. “The damages each plaintiff suffered due to this false advertisement amount to 70 million won,” Attorney Ha explained, noting this figure reflects the cost to replace the faulty battery packs. He also accused Mercedes-Benz of being aware of the battery defects following the Incheon fire but failing to conduct a recall, concealing the issue instead. The plaintiffs are seeking punitive damages due to the heightened risk of thermal runaway linked to the Farasis batteries, which they argue could lead to catastrophic failures.
One of the plaintiffs, Mr. Lee, expressed the stress and anxiety he has experienced since the incident, stating, “I chose an electric vehicle for environmental reasons, but since the Incheon fire, I’ve felt immense anxiety. I wake up several times at night and now park my car far away from other vehicles and buildings.” The plaintiffs are calling for an official apology and a recall from Mercedes-Benz Korea, and they are seeking punitive damages of up to five times the cost of battery replacement, totaling 350 million won per plaintiff.
Source: Businesskorea
