Smart recalls nearly 18,000 EVs in China

Smart is issue a China-wide recall of certain units of its electric models, the Smart #1 and Smart #3, due to a fire risk originating from the batteries. Given that its sister brand Zeekr initiated a similarly worded recall just a few weeks ago, the issues are likely related.

Since 2020, Smart has been a 50:50 joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and the Chinese manufacturer Geely. The company’s battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) are now built on a platform developed by Geely. However, certain model variants pose a fire risk. According to a notification submitted to China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), 18,217 vehicles produced between 2022 and 2023 are affected – specifically, 16,072 Smart #1 and 2,145 Smart #3 models.

The recall is scheduled to begin on 17 March 2026. Its goal is to eliminate the risk of thermal runaway, which has arisen ‘manufacturing consistency of components in their high-voltage power batteries’. As part of the recall, Smart will inspect the affected vehicles or conduct remote diagnostics and offer the option to replace the batteries entirely. Additionally, vehicle owners will receive warnings via a cloud platform about potential battery overheating risks while driving.

A similar measure was recently announced by Zeekr for its own recall, which affects approximately 38,000 units of the Zeekr 001 WE Edition built between 2021 and 2024. In this case, the issue was identified as the 86 kWh battery supplied by manufacturer Sunwoda. Reports indicate that prolonged use could lead to an unusual increase in the internal resistance of the high-voltage battery, resulting in reduced battery performance and, in extreme cases, thermal runaway.

Thermal runaway occurs when a battery cell becomes excessively hot due to defects, overheating, internal damage, or manufacturing flaws. This triggers increasingly rapid and exothermic (heat-releasing) internal chemical reactions. The generated heat can spread to adjacent cells, putting the entire battery at risk.

As the portal CN EV Post reports, Smart’s recall comes amid growing criticism of battery quality at Geely. Against this backdrop, a legal dispute between Geely’s subsidiary Vremt and Sunwoda was settled last month. Sunwoda has agreed to partially cover the costs of replacing the defective traction batteries for Zeekr.

cnevpost.com