Beijing Benz recalls Mercedes EQA and EQB EVs for battery safety

Beijing Benz has recalled Mercedes EQA and EQB electric vehicles after a regulator review found high-voltage battery risks. See affected years and safety advice.

Beijing Benz has announced a recall affecting the Mercedes-Benz EQA and EQB electric vehicles built between 2021 and 2024, citing a potential safety issue linked to the high-voltage battery system. The campaign follows a regulatory investigation that raised concerns about instability in the battery module production process.

According to China’s market regulator SAMR, the recall covers 12,308 vehicles produced between April 1, 2021 and October 31, 2023. The defect is tied to fluctuations during battery manufacturing that may reduce the reliability of certain modules. In addition, the current battery management system (BMS) strategy could, in some cases, place excessive stress on individual cells, increasing the risk of an internal short circuit. In the worst-case scenario, this could lead to a vehicle fire.

To address the issue, the manufacturer will implement a BMS software update through its dealer network. Until the repair is completed, owners are advised to limit charging to 80% as a precautionary measure.

The recall is not limited to China. In Germany, the ADAC reports that 3,119 vehicles are affected, while the worldwide total is estimated at 33,705 units. German reports also describe the underlying concern as a short-circuit risk in the high-voltage battery that could potentially trigger a fire, with software updates positioned as the primary remedy.

The situation highlights how even premium electric vehicles remain exposed to battery-related vulnerabilities. As EV adoption accelerates, such recalls are becoming a more visible part of the industry landscape. With the battery still being the most complex and expensive component in an electric vehicle, any safety concern quickly turns into a reputational test. For Mercedes-Benz, acting decisively is essential, as confidence in the premium EV segment depends not only on advanced technology, but also on trust in long-term safety.