Volvo, a subsidiary of Geely, has announced a global recall of more than 40,000 of its electric EX30 SUVs due to potential battery overheating issues that could lead to fires, a move that threatens to damage the automaker’s renowned safety reputation and result in high financial costs.
The recall, confirmed to Reuters on Monday, involves 40,323 EX30 Single-Motor Extended Range and Twin-Motor Performance vehicles equipped with high-voltage battery cells manufactured by Shandong Geely Sunwoda Power Battery Co, a joint venture backed by Volvo’s parent company Geely.
“We are now contacting the owners of all affected cars to advise them of the next steps,” Volvo said in a statement. The company’s shares fell 4% following the Reuters report about the recall.
The battery issues became publicly concerning after an EX30 caught fire at a dealership in Maceió, Brazil,in November 2025. Industry analysts, as quoted by Reuters, estimate the replacement of battery modules could cost up to 195 million USD, excluding logistics and repair expenses.
Since December, Volvo has instructed EX30 owners across more than a dozen countries—including the United States, Australia, and Brazil—to limit charging to 70% of capacity and park away from buildings to mitigate fire risks. This temporary measure has reduced the effective range of the vehicles, frustrating many customers.
Volvo has committed to replacing the affected battery packs free of charge, stating that the supplier has addressed the manufacturing issue and will provide new battery cells.
The recall follows a significant legal dispute between Geely subsidiary Viridi E-Mobility Technology and battery manufacturer Sunwoda, which was recently settled for 608 million yuan (approximately 89 million USD).
In the meantime, the company continues to urge owners to follow the 70% charging limit to eliminate fire risks.
This month, Geely also recalled 38,277 Zeekr 001 vehicles, again due to issues with Sunwoda batteries.
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