by Volvo EX30 Recall Issues in Thailand
Vehicle recalls only work when the fix arrives before the thing they were trying to prevent happens. Three months after Volvo recalled over 40,000 electric EX30s worldwide due to a battery fire risk, a Thai consumer protection agency has taken the automaker to court following two local fires.
Earlier this week, the Office of Consumer Protection Board (OCPB) met with Volvo representatives following two high-profile fires involving this electric crossover. The first fire occurred around March 25 in Bangkok, and the second on May 15, when an EX30 was plugged in for charging at the owner’s home. The fire quickly spread to a parked Ford Ranger and also damaged the building.
Read also: Volvo returns 40,000 electric cars for expensive battery replacement
According to the recall, which Volvo announced in February, both EX30s that caught fire in Thailand were charged beyond the 70-percent limit, which Volvo had recommended as a temporary safety measure. This explanation did not satisfy local authorities, who filed a civil lawsuit demanding compensation and refunds for owners.
Scale of the recall and authorities’ reaction
A total of 1,668 EX30s in Thailand are subject to the recall. Volvo reports that replacement batteries recently arrived in the country from China and will be installed in customers’ vehicles starting May 22. The OCPB is dissatisfied that it took three months for these batteries to arrive after the recall announcement and asked Volvo how it plans to compensate owners who could not use their vehicles normally during this period.
Owners demand refunds
In a conversation with Reuters, a local EX30 owner, Tanchanok Nousuwan, suggested that most owners do not want a battery replacement, but instead prefer a full refund. The EX30 recall affects both the Single-Motor Extended Range and Twin-Motor Performance models.
In a statement published online, Volvo Car Thailand stated that replacing the batteries on each affected vehicle will take approximately 3 days.
“Volvo Car Thailand would like to express our sincere concern regarding the two recent fire incidents involving Volvo EX30 vehicles. We have closely monitored and thoroughly investigated each case and have promptly provided appropriate support and compensation to those affected,” the statement reads.
The situation surrounding the Volvo EX30 recall in Thailand demonstrates how crucial a manufacturer’s rapid response to safety issues is. The delay in supplying new batteries and owners’ disagreement with the proposed solution have led to a lawsuit. It also highlights that consumers are increasingly demanding not just repairs, but full compensation when it comes to potentially dangerous defects. For Volvo, this case could become a serious reputational test in a rapidly developing market where trust in electric vehicles is a key factor.
