Volvo to recall 40K electric vehicles
EX30 SUV battery packs are potentiality risks
By: Marie Mannes
Reuters
STOCKHOLM - Volvo Cars will recall over 40,000 of its flagship electric EX30 SUVs because their battery packs risk overheating, it told Reuters on February 23, [2026] a move that could dent the automaker's hard-earned reputation for safety and cost it millions of dollars.
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The previously unreported recall in Volvos replacing modules in the high-voltage battery packs of the compact SUV, a crucial model in Volvo's push to compete with cheaper Chinese brands. Battery safety is a highly sensitive issue for EV makers and consumers. A total of 40,323 EX30 Single-Motor Extended range and Twin-Motor Performance cars with these high-voltage cells are affected, the Swedish automaker hat is majority-owned by China's Geely said in response to questions from Reuters.
..... "We are now contact the owners of all affected cares to advise them of next steps," Volvo said.
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In the rush to develop new EVs, some automakers have faced battery defects. In 2020, a fire risk forced General Motors to recall 140,000 Chevy Bolts with batteries supplied by south Korea's LG electronics, costing $2 billion to fix.
..... Volvo's battery issues come as the car maker pursues a $1.9 billion savings drive and deeper integration with parent Geely. The batteries were made by a Geely Sunwoda Power Battery Company Volvo said the supplier has fixed the problem and would supply the new battery cells.
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Volvo said it would replace affected units free of charge, urging owners in the meantime to continue limiting charging to 70% to eliminate the fire risk.
..... "the EX30 especially is very important to Volvo, so they have to get it right," said Sam Fiorani, vice president for global vehicle forecasting at research firm AutoForecast Solutions.
.....Since December, [2025] Volvo has told EX30 owners in more than a dozen counties including the United States, Australia and Brazil to park away from buildings and cap charging at 70%, according to regulatory filings and the company.
..... Andy Palmer, an industry veteran who oversaw the launch of Nissan Motor's Leaf EV in 2010, said Volvo has less room for missteps than rivals as its reputation for surety is central to its identity.
..... "Volvo can't afford a safety issue because that strikes at the heart of their brand," he said.
..... The new replacement battery modulars could cost $195 million, excluding logistics and repair costs, according to a Reuters analysis based on what a Chinese battery maker might charge. Volvo said the calculation were "speculative in nature," and that the automaker was in talks with the supplier.
..... Prior to news of the recall, Reuters spoke to two EX30 owners who wanted to return their cars, underscoring the potential impact.