Official announcement from South Korean government or relevant regulatory body

South Korea Considers EV Battery Disclosure After Mercedes-Benz Fire, Holds Emergency Meeting

Aug 12, 2024, 04:51 AM

South Korea is considering new regulations requiring electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers to disclose battery brands following a fire incident involving a Mercedes-Benz EV. The fire, which occurred in an underground garage, was linked to batteries made by China's Farasis Energy. It took over eight hours to extinguish, damaging approximately 140 cars and hospitalizing 23 people due to smoke inhalation. In response, South Korean officials held an emergency meeting to discuss EV safety and potential policy changes. The government aims to address growing consumer concerns and improve crisis response capacities among automakers. Mercedes-Benz's silence on the incident has also raised questions about its crisis response capacity.