Mercedes-Benz automotive sellers in Korea have apparently been skilled by the corporate’s native unit to inform prospects that the automaker used battery cells produced completely by CATL in its electrical car (EV) fashions.
Within the 2023 EQ Gross sales Playbook, Mercedes-Benz Korea’s official supplier coaching materials, sellers have been instructed to say CATL because the EV battery cell producer when responding to buyer inquiries. CATL is the worldwide chief in EV battery gross sales.
The subject of EV battery cell suppliers has been a intently watched matter throughout the auto business lately, following a large hearth attributable to a Mercedes-Benz EV that ended up damaging over 100 autos and destroying an underground house parking storage in Incheon, west of Seoul, in August.
To the shock of many, battery cells used within the EV in query turned out to be from Farasis Vitality, a Chinese language agency recognized to be ranked at round tenth globally.
The coaching materials additionally included a session state of affairs for addressing buyer issues concerning the security of Chinese language-made batteries. In pattern responses, Mercedes-Benz Korea completely mentions CATL because the producer of its EV battery cells.
A pattern response states, “CATL is a Chinese language firm, but it surely has essentially the most superior know-how within the world battery business.”
It additionally states, “Solely skinny battery cells, that are parts of the completed battery product, are equipped by CATL, whereas the manufacturing of the completed battery is finished at (Mercedes-Benz) headquarters in Germany.”
All through the fabric, the corporate mentions solely CATL as its battery cell provider.
In keeping with the official Mercedes-Benz web site, the corporate sells a complete of eight passenger EV fashions. For the reason that hearth incident, the corporate revealed that sure trims of the EQE and EQS fashions use batteries from Farasis Vitality.
Mercedes-Benz Korea is at present beneath investigation by the Honest Commerce Fee for allegations of offering false info associated to EV batteries to prospects.
A bunch of Mercedes-Benz EV prospects lately despatched an inquiry to the corporate asking whether or not sellers have been skilled to specify CATL as being the only battery cell provider, and whether or not it plans to compensate prospects who’ve bought vehicles beneath such perception.
In keeping with the group, the corporate responded that it was tough to supply detailed feedback resulting from an ongoing investigation. “We’re cooperating with authorities to find out the foundation reason for the fireplace incident,” the corporate was quoted as saying. (Yonhap)