Volvo Cars will recall over 40,000 of its flagship electric EX30 SUVs because their battery packs risk overheating, it told Reuters on Monday, a move that could dent the automaker’s hard-earned reputation for safety and cost it millions of dollars.
The previously unreported recall involves replacing modules in the high-voltage battery packs of the compact SUV, a crucial model in Volvo’s push to compete with cheaper Chinese brands. Battery safety is a highly sensitive issue for EV makers and consumers.
A total of 40,323 EX30 Single-Motor Extended Range and Twin-Motor Performance cars with these high‑voltage