All Audi, Volkswagen EVs in Korea have Korean batteries, firms emphasize

Audi, Volkswagen, and Stellantis disclosed battery details for their EV models in Korea after public fear of EV fires.

The burnt Mercedes EQE sedan is transferred for investigation in Incheon. [NEWS1]

Audi and Volkswagen said Wednesday that all of their electric vehicles currently driving on Korean roads are powered by batteries made by domestic firms.

The German automakers' disclosures came amid mounting public fear of EV fires after a Mercedes EV equipped with a lithium-ion battery from a lesser-known Chinese company exploded earlier this month.

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

Audi sells 13 EV models in Korea, including the popular Q4 e-tron and Q8 e-tron, all of which are powered by batteries from LG Energy Solution and Samsung SDI.

Volkswagen sells only one EV in Korea — the ID.4 — for which LG Energy Solution supplies batteries.

A notice on the Volkswagen Group Korea website discloses the suppliers of batteries used in the Volkswagen and Audi EVs available in Korea. None of the models use batteries from Chinese brands. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Stellantis, on Wednesday, also disclosed battery details for its six EV and plug-in hybrid models from three brands: Jeep, Peugeot and DS. DS halted sales this year.

Jeep's Wrangler and Grand Cherokee plug-in hybrid models are topped with batteries from Samsung SDI.

Peugeot's e-208 and e-2008 as well as DS's 3 E-Tense use batteries from China's Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL). The Avenger, Jeep’s first-ever pure EV, which is likely to hit Korea in the second half, is also powered by CATL.

“To settle our customers' growing anxiety, we are disclosing details about all our EV and hybrid lineups including the model that has not been even released yet,” said Bang Sil, managing director of Stellantis Korea.

As many as 880 vehicles were damaged after a Mercedes EQE EV burst into flames in an underground parking lot at an apartment complex in Incheon on Aug. 1. [YONHAP]

Porsche incorporates LG Energy Solution batteries into the Taycan EV, the only electric model the luxury brand offers in Korea.

Other automakers including General Motors are also considering making disclosures after the government said Tuesday that it would advise auto manufacturers to do so in the interest of public safety.

Hyundai Motor, Kia and foreign brands BMW and Volvo Cars also disclose such information through their websites.

On Aug. 1, a Mercedes EQE EV burst into flames in an underground parking garage at an apartment complex in Incheon, sending 23 people to the hospital. The incident damaged as many as 880 vehicles parked in the garage and inflicted weeklong electricity and water supply outages on nearly 500 households.

The burned EQE is confirmed to have included batteries from China's Farasis Energy, the 10th-largest EV battery supplier, in which Mercedes holds a stake.

Five Mercedes EV models are topped with batteries from Farasis, including the most expensive model currently available in Korea, according to the firms' disclosure.

Eight models are powered by CATL batteries while three use batteries from LG Energy Solution and SK On.

Mercedes-Benz Korea CEO Mathias Vaitl plans to visit the apartment complex in Incheon to meet with residents Wednesday evening to apologize for the incident and its resulting damages.

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