The battery quality issue involving GAC Aion and CALB continues to escalate. Since the start of this year, new energy commercial vehicles equipped with CALB's 177Ah lithium iron phosphate cells have been experiencing a concentrated outbreak of high-risk failures, including cell swelling, electrolyte leakage, and sudden power loss while driving. A growing number of vehicle owners are now demanding a formal recall from the manufacturers.
A post-sales manager at GAC Aion recently responded to the media for the first time, stating that a vehicle recall is a legally regulated act under strict government supervision, and that the automaker has no authority to declare a recall unilaterally. Currently, GAC Aion has been working closely with CALB to engage with relevant regulatory and technical bodies. They are continuing to push forward a technical review of the 177Ah battery product, optimizing solutions, and filing applications for enhanced after-sales services. The process for initiating a recall has also been started. Although GAC Aion and CALB have issued service announcements, the conditions set forth in those announcements have sparked controversy. Multiple vehicle owners report that various GAC Aion 4S dealerships are refusing to provide warranty service, citing the battery's voltage differential as being within normal limits.
A visit to a GAC Aion experience center in Beijing revealed that the faulty batteries are primarily found in the 2023 Aion S series. Staff indicated that if the battery voltage differential is abnormal, repairs can be made, but the final decision rests on the manufacturer's diagnostic results. This raises the question of whether such a standard is reasonable. A battery expert consulted on the matter explained that voltage differential data cannot explain all battery issues. Battery swelling, for instance, does not affect the voltage differential unless a safety vent is breached. A battery with a normal voltage differential can still be swollen, and swelling to a certain degree will inevitably impact the vehicle's range. Regardless of whether a recall is ultimately ordered, the battery manufacturer, CALB, may face massive claims for damages. Legal professionals note that under the "Regulations on the Recall of Defective Automobile Products," the legal entity responsible for a recall is the vehicle manufacturer. After GAC Aion bears the cost, it can seek recourse from CALB based on the procurement contract, quality assurance agreement, and the right of subrogation under the Civil Code.
Are warranty service conditions a black box?
CALB previously issued a notice regarding the provision of direct maintenance services for the battery systems of GAC Aion's Aion S models. On the same day, GAC Aion released a notice upgrading the warranty service for some vehicles equipped with the 177Ah battery. Since the announcements, the status of warranty services for vehicles with the problematic batteries has been unclear. A ride-hailing driver from Chaozhou, Guangdong, Mr. Liao, reported that he purchased an Aion S Mei 580 commercial version in August 2023, equipped with the CALB 177Ah battery. The vehicle, which has a 5-year/500,000 km warranty, has now driven 186,000 km and is still within the warranty period. However, it has experienced abnormal power loss. He measured that when the dashboard showed a remaining range of 150 km, the car could only actually travel 50 km. Mr. Liao stated that he is unable to access the promised service, as GAC Aion keeps finding excuses. He has visited the local GAC Aion 4S dealership twice, each time being told that the voltage differential test results are normal and do not meet the conditions for warranty service. The 4S dealership explained that only a 30% battery degradation would qualify for a warranty, and that the current loss might be normal or influenced by factors like air conditioning use, audio system, or driving style. The dealership's final advice was to continue driving the car and bring it in only when a major failure occurs. Mr. Liao expressed frustration with the manufacturer's attitude, noting that he contacted GAC Aion customer service five times between late June and after the July 7 announcement, with the fourth call offering a seemingly satisfactory reply that a follow-up would be made, which never happened, and the fifth call being met with continued evasion.
The conditions for qualifying for the special maintenance and warranty service are vaguely described in the announcements from both CALB and GAC Aion. Both companies state that, based on test results, eligible vehicles can receive free battery system repair or replacement. A CALB staff member confirmed that their policy is aligned with GAC Aion's. The current workflow involves the dealership removing the battery pack after a customer report, then sending it to a CALB service point for testing or repair. Whether warranty service is provided depends on the test results. A GAC Aion staff member stated that no specific information on the criteria for battery repair or replacement is available, and that it would need to be discussed with the dealership after testing. A battery expert clarified that using voltage differential as the primary diagnostic standard is insufficient. Battery swelling does not affect the differential, and a normal differential does not rule out swelling. Swelling will eventually impact range, but the voltage differential may remain unchanged. The only scenario where swelling alters the differential is if the battery's internal structure is damaged, causing a reaction that produces gas, leading to a pressure increase that opens the safety vent and releases the electrolyte. A staff member at a GAC Aion 4S dealership in Beijing confirmed that a vehicle with an abnormal voltage differential would qualify for warranty service, but also noted that service records must be checked, as the primary maintenance item is the voltage differential. The final decision rests with the manufacturer's test results.
What conditions must be met for a recall?
The Aion S Mei 580 was once called the "indestructible ride-hailing god car," with a significant portion of its owners being ride-hailing drivers. A battery failure in a ride-hailing vehicle poses a greater social risk. One owner, Mr. Liao, expressed fear that the car could suddenly lose power on the highway, leading to a serious accident. He simply wants the defective battery to be fixed so he can drive without constant worry. These vehicles often accumulate high mileage, and the battery quality issue has been ongoing for some time. Some owners, whose vehicles have already exceeded 300,000 km by the time of the announcements, are also seeking warranty service. One owner reported two instances of sudden power loss, one occurring before the 300,000 km mark and before the company's public response. GAC Aion customer service stated that component failures are influenced by many factors, and that the new policy extends coverage to 300,000 km. Vehicles exceeding this limit would require self-funded repairs.
The stance of GAC Aion and CALB has drawn public criticism. The targeted warranty extensions and localized repairs are seen as a band-aid solution. The GAC Aion post-sales manager reiterated that, under the national regulations, a recall must follow a complete legal process of risk assessment, solution verification, corporate application, filing with the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), and public announcement. It cannot be unilaterally declared by the company. Lawyer Liu Yabo explained that, based on the "Regulations on the Recall of Defective Automobile Products," a recall requires three conditions to be met simultaneously: a common defect across a batch or model, the defect being due to design or manufacturing (excluding user factors like maintenance, collision, or water damage), and the existence of an unreasonable risk to personal or property safety. He noted that mass complaints alone do not trigger a mandatory recall; the SAMR's Defective Product Recall Technical Center must collect evidence, conduct an investigation, and issue a conclusion. Regarding the mileage limits in the announcements, Lawyer Liu stated that the original 8-year/150,000 km warranty is a legal minimum, while the new 8-year/300,000 km policy is a voluntary enhancement by GAC Aion. If the regulatory body later confirms a batch-level manufacturing defect, the recall obligation would not be limited by the 300,000 km cap, and the automaker would still be required to provide free repairs. Regardless of the recall outcome, CALB may face substantial claims. Lawyer Liu explained that the vehicle manufacturer is the primary recall entity under the law. After GAC Aion fulfills its recall obligations, it can seek compensation from CALB based on the subrogation rights in their contract and the Civil Code. A precedent exists: in December 2025, Geely's Viridi E-mobility sued Sunwoda for 2.314 billion yuan over battery cell defects. In February 2026, Sunwoda announced a settlement agreeing to share costs "responsibility-sharing, installment payment" and paying an additional 608 million yuan for past costs, with future costs to be shared proportionally.
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