Volvo Recalls Over 40,000 EX30s Globally Over Battery Overheating Fire Risk

On February 24, Volvo announced a global recall of 40,323 EX30 all-electric SUVs, affecting the 2024–2026 model-year single-motor long-range and dual-motor high-performance variants, all equipped with 69 kWh ternary lithium-ion battery packs. The recall stems from a manufacturing defect in the battery packs that may result in inconsistent cell performance. Under conditions of high state of charge, elevated temperatures, or vibration, this inconsistency could lead to localized short circuits, overheating, and potentially thermal runaway fires. The issue came to light after an EX30 spontaneously caught fire at a dealership in Brazil in November 2023; subsequent investigations confirmed the incident was caused by a battery manufacturing flaw. In response, Volvo has instructed owners to limit their vehicle charging to a maximum of 70% and advised parking vehicles outdoors, away from buildings. The company will replace the defective battery modules free of charge, with new cells supplied by Sunwoda. The recall is expected to cost Volvo approximately USD 195 million (roughly RMB 13.49 billion).