General Motors and the South Korean battery supplier - LG – managed to reach an agreement. LG Electronics has agreed to reimburse the carmaker $1.9 billion for the recall and fix Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicles due to fire risks caused by faulty batteries.
The problems occurred at LG Battery Solution’s plants in South Korea and Michigan. According to General Motors, the manufacturing defects are a torn anode tab and folded separator that increases the risk of fire when in the same battery cell. The faulty batteries have caused at least 13 vehicles to catch fire.
Replacement and repairing work are expected to start this month, and the final recall costs are still subject to change, depending on the number of battery modules replaced.
The settlement is a significant win for the automaker, which missed the earnings expectations due to setting aside money related to the expected recall costs. Now, GM announced that it would recognize a recovery in Q3 that will offset $1.9 billion of $2 billion in charges associated with the recalls.
Moreover, the agreement comes as General Motors and LG build two battery plants in the US in Ohio and Tennessee. The companies will operate through a joint venture called Ultium Cells LLC. and produce General Motors’ next-generation batteries called Ultium.
General Motors shares closed 1.5% higher after the news hit the wires.
Sources: cnbc.com, reuters.com