A Volvo EX30 on display at the Shanghai Auto Show in April 2025. Credit: CnEVPost
- Volvo is recalling 2,501 China-built EX30 electric SUVs over a potential thermal runaway risk in the battery.
- The recall extends a global battery safety crisis surrounding the Volvo EX30.
Volvo Cars is recalling 2,501 China-built EX30 electric SUVs (sport utility vehicles) over a potential thermal runaway risk in the battery.
The recall was filed by Zhejiang Haoqing Automobile Manufacturing Co Ltd and takes effect immediately, according to a statement released Thursday by China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR).
The affected cars were produced between April 12 and December 27, 2024. A production deviation could cause lithium growth inside the cells, leading to an internal short circuit, according to the statement.
The dashboard may issue a warning that the high-voltage battery is overheating, and the battery may emit smoke, the statement said. In extreme cases, there is a risk of thermal runaway.
Zhejiang Haoqing will task Volvo’s authorized dealers with carrying out the recall. The measures include inspecting and replacing potentially defective battery modules to eliminate the safety hazard.
Until the recall is completed, Volvo advises owners to set their charging limit to no more than 70% to reduce the risk.
The recall extends the global battery troubles facing the Volvo EX30. In February, Volvo announced a worldwide recall of more than 40,000 EX30s.
That recall also involved replacing battery modules. Reuters estimated at the time that this single round of recalls could result in losses of about $195 million. Volvo later cut the global recall to 37,802 cars from 40,323.
The batteries in question are believed to be made by Sunwoda (SZSE: 300207). Volvo previously said the issue had been resolved and that Sunwoda would supply new cells.
Sunwoda said in December 2025 that its subsidiary, Sunwoda Electric Vehicle Battery Co Ltd (Sunwoda EVB), had been sued by Vremt, a unit of Geely, which was seeking 2.31 billion yuan ($342 million) in damages.
In February this year, Sunwoda EVB reached a settlement with Vremt over the battery quality dispute. Geely Holding is Volvo’s controlling shareholder.
The EX30’s troubles have not ended there. In May, Thailand’s consumer watchdog, the Office of Consumer Protection Board (OCPB), filed a civil suit against Volvo’s Thai unit over two EX30 fires.
Volvo has previously said the fire incidents are rare, affecting well under 0.1% of vehicles. The company also issued Thai owners an interim recommendation to cap charging at 70%.
The EX30 is the entry-level model in Volvo’s bet on electrification. A refreshed version went on sale in China in March, with a limited-time starting price of 159,800 yuan.
The recall follows a settlement between Geely unit Vremt and battery supplier Sunwoda over battery quality disputes.
($1 = 6.7621 yuan)
