Volvo Car Group has initiated a global recall affecting tens of thousands of vehicles following safety concerns with high-voltage batteries supplied by China’s Sunwoda Electronic.
The move coincides with a parallel legal dispute in which Geely subsidiary Viridi E-Mobility Technology has filed a 2.31 billion yuan (323 million USD) lawsuit against Sunwoda over alleged defects in battery cells delivered between 2021 and 2023.
According to Hypermiler, 10,440 EX30 vehicles in the UK are subject to immediate attention, while the broader recall encompasses 33,777 EX30 units globally. Approximately 0.02% of the Sunwoda cells used in these vehicles have reportedly overheated, including a notable incident at a dealership in Maceió, Brazil, in November 2025. That event destroyed the vehicle and required 11 firefighters and four fire trucks to extinguish the blaze, highlighting the potential severity of thermal runaway risks in high-voltage EV batteries.
Volvo has issued urgent guidance in multiple markets, including the UK, US, Australia, and South Africa, asking owners to limit charging to 70% capacity while a comprehensive recall and inspection program is deployed. In South Africa, the National Consumer Commission has confirmed a recall affecting 372 EX30 vehicles, covering both single-motor extended range and dual-motor performance variants from the 2024–2026 model years.
The battery concerns extend beyond Volvo. Geely’s Zeekr 001 WE86, another model using Sunwoda cells, faced customer complaints regarding reduced charging rates and inaccurate range displays. Zeekr responded with a “Winter Care Campaign” offering inspections and free battery replacements, reportedly costing over 1 billion yuan (140 million USD).
Volvo and Geely are attempting to reassure customers, noting that the number of incidents remains very low and the risk is rare. Nevertheless, temporary charging limitations have reduced effective driving range for affected vehicles, drawing frustration from owners who expected full EV functionality.
The recall comes at a peak moment for Geely. The holding group reported record global sales of 4,116,321 vehicles in 2025, up 26% year-on-year, with new energy vehicles (NEVs) accounting for 2,293,099 units, a 58% increase. Volvo alone sold 710,042 vehicles, with NEVs representing 46% of total sales at 323,294 units, reinforcing the strategic reliance on electric mobility growth even amid battery quality challenges.
