Mercedes reveals 5 EVs have same batteries as Incheon fire EQE

Mercedes-Benz released the list of batteries powering the EVs for sale in Korea, with 13 powered by Farasis, the same brand in the EQE that exploded in Incheon earlier in the month.

The burnt Mercedes EQE sedan is being transferred for thorough investigation earlier in the month. [YONHAP]

Thirteen of the 16 Mercedes-Benz EV models on Korean roads are powered by lithium-ion batteries made in China, according to the German brand's disclosure on Tuesday.

Five models are topped with batteries from Ganzhou-based Farasis Energy — including the most expensive model currently available in Korea — including the EQE sedan that burst into flames in an underground parking garage in Incheon earlier in the month.

Mercedes-Benz Korea disclosed the brands of batteries installed in its EVs on its website on Tuesday in the wake of growing requests and concern from consumers, retracting its initial stance that “details about battery companies are confidential.”

CCTV footage shows a Mercedes-Benz EV exploding at an underground parking lot in Incheon on Aug.1. [YONHAP]

A notice from Mercedes-Benz Korea website discloses brand names of batteries it used in its EVs on Korean roads. Thirteen of 16 models of Mercedes EVs are powered by China-made lithium-ion batteries. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Three of four EQE models possess Farasis batteries, while only the EQE 300 model has CATL batteries. The upper-level EQS 350 also has batteries from Farasis.

Farasis is the world’s 10th largest battery maker as of last year. Daimler, the parent company of Mercedes-Benz, inked a 10-year supply deal with Farasis in 2018, and Mercedes acquired 3 percent of the Chinese battery company in 2020 in a deal reportedly valued at up to 900 million yuan ($126 million). In 2021, China's BAIC Group recalled around 32,000 cars from two EV models equipped with Farasis batteries, citing battery defects.

CATL is the world's No. 1 player by market share, followed immediately by three Korean firms — LG Energy Solution, SK On and Samsung SDI.

Most EQS sedans and the entire EQS SUV range are equipped with CATL batteries, as is the Maybach EQS SUV.

A notice from BMW Korea website discloses brand names of batteries it used in its EVs on Korean roads. Nine of 11 BMW EVs use Samsung SDI batteries while two for CATL batteries. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Only three Mercedes EVs use batteries from Korean companies: The EQC uses batteries from LG Energy Solution, and the EQA and EQB use SK On batteries.

Farasis and CATL both make nickel cobalt manganese (NCM) batteries, a variant in which Korean battery makers hold a firmer standing. But NCM batteries from Chinese brands are known to be around 30 percent cheaper than those from Korean brands.

“Mercedes will offer free checkup services for our EV owners starting on Wednesday at 75 service centers across the country,” Mercedes-Benz Korea said in a statement Tuesday. “We are exerting all efforts to cooperate with fire authorities to determine the root cause of the fire.”

Mercedes’ disclosure comes a day after BMW released the brands of its EVs' batteries, becoming the first foreign automaker in Korea to do so.

BMW Korea said Monday that nine out of its 11 EV models available in the country use batteries from Samsung SDI, including two EV options from its most-popular 5 Series.

Volvo Cars Korea Tuesday also revealed that it used LG Energy Solution batteries for their C40 Recharge and XC40 Recharge SUVs.

The EX30, which is expected to hit the local market later in the year, uses batteries from Vremt, a subsidiary of China's Geely.

Hyundai Motor and Kia also said almost of their EVs use batteries from LG Energy Solution and SK On, with the exception of the Kona Electric, Ray and Niro EVs, which use CATL batteries.

Other imported brands like Audi and Volkswagen are also considering disclosing the brands of batteries in their cars.

BY SARAH CHEA [chea.sarah@joongang.co.kr]