Mercedes-Benz EQE Owners in South Korea Seek Collective Dispute Resolution Over Battery Claims
Fifty-three Mercedes-Benz EQE electric vehicle owners in South Korea have initiated a collective dispute resolution process. They accuse the manufacturer of misrepresenting battery suppliers, claiming VDA batteries were installed instead of advertised CATL components.
South Korea's Consumer Dispute Settlement Commission has officially initiated a collective dispute resolution procedure against Mercedes-Benz Korea. The action was prompted by 53 consumers who allege misleading information regarding the battery suppliers in certain EQE series electric vehicles imported and sold since June 2023.
The consumers contend that dealership sales representatives stated the vehicles were equipped with CATL batteries, but actual installations used products from VDA (åšèƒ½ç§‘技). The dispute involves models including the EQE 350+, EQE 350 4MATIC, EQE 53 4MATIC+, and EQE 500 4MATIC SUV.
This controversy is linked to a significant incident in August 2024, where an EQE 350+ caught fire while parked. The subsequent investigation revealed discrepancies between the advertised and actual battery manufacturers.
In March, the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) fined Mercedes-Benz Korea approximately 11.239 billion won (around $8.2 million USD) for concealing the true battery source in its sales documents. The KFTC also referred the company and its headquarters for prosecution. The commission estimated that around 3,000 related vehicles were sold during the period of non-compliance.
The settlement commission determined that the case met the criteria for collective dispute resolution due to the number of affected consumers and the commonality of the factual and legal issues. Consumers who purchased the specified vehicles between June 8, 2023, and August 12, 2024, and were explicitly informed of CATL batteries, are invited to register for the proceeding.