Faulty batteries force Hyundai to recall over 25,000 Kona EVs

Hyundai Motor Co. will voluntarily recall 25,564 Kona Electric models due to a possible short circuit in the faulty battery cell system that may lead to a fire.

The affected vehicles were those manufactured between Sept. 29, 2019, and March 13, 2020.

According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, the carmaker will start updating the battery-related software program for the EV vehicles subject to the recall beginning Oct. 16.

There were 13 cases of fires in the model reported since 2018.

LG Chem Ltd., which supplies lithium-ion car batteries to Hyundai Motor, said that it is still determining the exact cause of the fires in the Kona Electric car.

LG Chem pledged to investigate the cause of the fire in the Kona Electric jointly with Hyundai Motor will jointly investigate the exact cause of the fires.