BANGKOK, Thailand – Thailand’s consumer protection agency has summoned Volvo Cars Thailand following electric vehicle fires during charging, concluding with the carmaker agreeing to replace the two fire-damaged vehicles and fix battery issues affecting over 1,600 other cars.
The meeting, chaired by Pradermchai Boonchuayluea, advisor to the Minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office, brought together Volvo representatives and affected consumers at the Office of the Consumer Protection Board to resolve grievances. The dispute centers on safety concerns and a safety advisory that urged owners to limit battery charging to 70% to prevent overheating, which frustrated owners who found their vehicles could not charge to full capacity.
Volvo agreed to provide new cars to the owners of the two vehicles that caught fire. It will also replace the battery modules for 1,666 affected EX30 models to allow 100% charging capacity using newly certified imports from China. The replacement program is expected to finish by Aug. 31.
However, Volvo ruled out immediate vehicle buybacks, stating that global policy only mandates recalls and repairs, though it agreed to forward the consumers’ request to its parent company. The company noted that other Volvo models use different battery types and are unaffected. (TNA)
