Stellantis recalls plug-in hybrid minivans on fire risk

Chrysler dad or mum business Stellantis is recalling pretty much 20,000 plug-in hybrid Pacifica minivans simply because of fireplace threat, the hottest incident highlighting the probable dangers involved with the industry’s shift towards EVs.

An inner investigation located 12 incidents of fires in automobiles from the 2017 and 2018 product many years, the automaker said Friday in a assertion. All of the minivans ended up parked and turned off, and eight were charging when the fires happened. Stellantis reported it’s not mindful of any related accidents or mishaps.

“Stellantis is doing work to ensure the induce of the fires,” the organization stated in the assertion. “The cure, when designed, will be presented free of charge of charge, and influenced shoppers will be suggested when they may perhaps schedule company.”

The voluntary recall consists of 19,808 automobiles, largely in the U.S. and Canada, with batteries produced by an affiliate of LG Chem Ltd.

LG Energy Solution Ltd., which was spun out of father or mother LG Chem in an original general public supplying previous thirty day period, reported the automaker hasn’t recognized a bring about for the fires.

“There is no verified root bring about of fires in the Stellantis automobiles that is topic to the recall, or proof directly linking to the battery,” the South Korean firm claimed in an emailed assertion.

General Motors arrived at an settlement with LG team providers in October to get better expenses associated with an unrelated recall of batteries in its Chevrolet Bolt EV. The automaker had to remember all 143,000 Bolt and Bolt EUV versions because of a producing defect involving the battery that led to an increased fire danger.