Beijing Benz, the Chinese joint venture of Mercedes-Benz, will recall 13,447 domestically produced EQC electric vehicles starting September 27 due to potential battery fire risks stemming from a software defect, China’s market regulator said on Friday.
The recall covers EQC models manufactured between November 30, 2018, and September 17, 2022, and follows a defect investigation by the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR). The high-voltage batteries in the affected vehicles may experience thermal runaway under extreme conditions due to a flaw in the battery management system software.
“This could lead to vehicle fires and pose a safety hazard,” SAMR said in its official statement.
Beijing Benz will update the battery management software in the affected units through authorized dealers. In the interim, the company has advised vehicle owners to limit their state-of-charge to no more than 80 percent as a precautionary measure.
This marks the second battery-related recall by Mercedes-Benz in China in the past three months. In March, the automaker recalled over 12,000 units of its EQA and EQB models, citing potential internal short circuits due to manufacturing issues with battery cells.
Beijing Benz began delivering the EQC, Mercedes-Benz’s first fully electric vehicle, in China in November 2019. The model previously faced complaints from local consumers regarding motor failures.