Volvo Faces Legal Action in Thailand Over EX30 Fires: Consumer Protection Board Files Lawsuit
Volvo Cars is currently facing legal action in Thailand due to two incidents involving fires in their Volvo EX30 vehicles, which occurred after a global recall related to battery fire risks. The Office of the Consumer Protection Board in Thailand has filed a civil lawsuit against Volvo following these incidents. The first fire took place in Bangkok in March, while the second occurred in May during charging at a customer's home, damaging a nearby Ford Ranger and property.
Volvo had issued a recall in February for over 40,000 EX30 electric vehicles globally due to battery safety concerns. Owners were advised not to charge affected vehicles beyond 70% battery capacity until replacement battery packs were available. The vehicles involved in the Thailand fires had reportedly been charged above the recommended limit, prompting questions from Thai consumer protection authorities about the delay in permanent repairs.
A total of 1,668 EX30 vehicles in Thailand are affected by the recall, with replacement battery packs sourced from China starting to arrive in the country for installation. The OCPB has also sought clarification from Volvo regarding compensation plans for customers who couldn't use their vehicles normally during the three-month period between the recall announcement and availability of replacement batteries.
Some customers, like EX30 owner Tanchanok Nowsuwan, have expressed a preference for refunds over battery replacements. The recall covers both the Single-Motor Extended Range and Twin-Motor Performance versions of the EX30, with Volvo Car Thailand stating that replacing the battery pack in each affected vehicle would take around three days.
The Volvo EX30 is the brand's smallest fully electric SUV, available in rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations. With up to 428 horsepower and an estimated WLTP driving range of 480 kilometers, the model is built on Geely's SEA platform and supports DC fast charging, capable of charging the battery from 10% to 80% in approximately 25 minutes under suitable conditions.