The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened an equipment investigation into 138,324 electric cars manufactured by the Mercedes-Benz Group, Stellantis, General Motors and Hyundai Motor that use LG batteries.
Quoted by Antara news agency from the South Korean news agency, Yonhap, on Thursday (7/4/2022) the inspection of the battery made by LG Energy Solution (LGES) was taken on the basis of a possible fire.
NHTSA said this investigation will later notify the concerned car manufacturers, about defects in the vehicles produced. Also ensures a complete safety recall if it meets recall requirements.
“This is a standard follow-up procedure to check if any identical or similar parts are being supplied to other automotive companies and hope that there will be no additional problems,” LGES explained in a written release.
Of the vehicles that were the subject of the inquiry request, LGES stated that inspections for General Motors, Chevrolet Bolt EV, Hyundai Kona and Hyundai IONIQ products have been completed. Meanwhile, the Hyundai Pacifica PHEV from Stellantis is in progress.
Meanwhile, the Volkswagen ID.4 was recalled due to soldering of the flexible circuit board attached to the battery module. And Mercedes-Benz products only involve one unit. This is explained by LGES.
“We are cooperating in an orderly manner for further investigations,” said LGES.
In 2020, Hyundai recalled the 2019 and 2020 editions of the Hyundai Kona EV, as well as General Motors which involved around 140,000 Chevrolet Bolt EVs which could cause a fire.
As a supplier of electric batteries for these products, LGES reimbursed General Motors for Hyundai’s recall fees.