Volvo, long synonymous with "safety," has recently found itself embroiled in controversy over battery safety concerns.
Due to a fire risk associated with batteries supplied by Sunwoda, Volvo is currently recalling its EX30 model from multiple global markets. However, what has left many Volvo owners in China dissatisfied is the absence of any recall action domestically, leading them to question whether they are being treated differently.
Volvo's customer service confirmed that the rear-wheel-drive Long Range Plus version and higher trims of the EX30 sold in China are indeed equipped with Sunwoda's ternary lithium batteries. In response to owners' safety concerns, the service representative merely stated, "We understand the owners' concerns, but there is currently no recall notice for the EX30 in China."
Is China Missing from a Multi-Country Recall, Indicating Differential Treatment? According to foreign media reports, to mitigate the risk of battery failure linked to Sunwoda batteries, Volvo has initiated an emergency recall and safety warning globally for its popular all-electric SUV model, the EX30. Notably, the recall covers vehicles produced between September 6, 2024, and October 25, 2025, that are equipped with Sunwoda batteries.
It is reported that this recall involves several countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Australia. Specifically, Volvo is recalling 40 units of the 2025 EX30 electric vehicle in the U.S., 2,815 units of the 2024 Volvo EX30 in Australia, and 10,440 units of the 2024-2026 EX30 are affected in the UK.
Previously, there have been reports of Volvo EX30 vehicles catching fire overseas. In November 2025, a Volvo EX30 at a car dealership in Maceió, Brazil, caught fire, resulting in the vehicle being completely destroyed. Volvo has issued urgent notices to owners in markets including the UK, U.S., Australia, and South Africa, advising them to limit their vehicle's charge level to 70% of the battery's capacity until a comprehensive recall solution is implemented.
Faced with the recall information for the EX30 abroad, domestic owners in China are also growing restless.
One Volvo EX30 owner expressed that they chose Volvo specifically for its safety reputation and are now troubled by battery safety issues, stating, "When I decided to buy an electric vehicle, I did extensive research, with safety being my top priority. Volvo's main selling point is safety, but I never expected this...".
Recently, however, she stumbled upon news about Volvo's global recall of the EX30. Upon closer inspection, she found that her vehicle's production date and battery supplier closely matched the recall details. Yet, after searching through Volvo's official Chinese website, owner forums, and even consulting a 4S dealership, she found no announcements, notices, or even an explanation.
She pointedly asked, given that the risk has been publicly acknowledged and overseas owners are being addressed seriously, have Chinese owners been forgotten?
On social media, many Volvo EX30 owners have also voiced their opinions, stating they cannot accept differential treatment and are demanding an official response and explanation from Volvo.
Available information indicates that among the five currently available versions of the Volvo EX30, only the rear-wheel-drive Core version is equipped with a lithium iron phosphate battery from Rept Battero; all other versions use ternary lithium batteries from Sunwoda.
The "Next-Generation Auto Research" column sent an inquiry to Volvo's official channels regarding the domestic recall information and owners' allegations of differential treatment. As of the time of writing, there has been no official response. Volvo's customer service confirmed that the domestic EX30 Long Range Plus and higher trims use Sunwoda's ternary lithium batteries. Regarding owners' safety worries, the service representative only stated, "We understand the owners' concerns. Recalls can be queried through the State Administration for Market Regulation's Defective Product Recall Technical Center. Currently, there is no recall notice for the EX30 in China."
Just Six Months on the Market, Already Selling at Half Price! Notably, beyond the recall controversy, several Volvo models are also facing significant discounting and promotional sales in the domestic market.
On the automotive platform Dongchedi, the dealer price for the Volvo S60 is listed between 164,900 and 258,900 yuan, while the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) ranges from 306,900 to 384,900 yuan. Based on this calculation, the 2026 B4 Zhiyi Luxury trim is effectively being sold at nearly a 50% discount.
In reality, the 2026 Volvo S60 was officially launched in July 2025, offering four variants with guide prices consistent with the 2025 models, effectively providing more features without a price increase. However, just six months later, this new model is already being promoted at half price, indicating substantial pressure.
Furthermore, the dealer price for the Volvo XC70 is between 269,900 and 349,900 yuan, compared to an MSRP of 416,900 to 496,900 yuan, equating to a minimum discount of 40%. On social media, some Volvo sales personnel have even posted promotional materials advertising, "Buy a Volvo XC70 this week, limited to five units at a 50% mega-discount."
Additionally, several other models are offering considerable incentives. For example, the dealer price for the Volvo XC60 is 152,000 yuan lower than the MSRP, and the Volvo S90's dealer price is 154,000 yuan below its MSRP.
Behind the fire sale of multiple models lies the sales pressure Volvo faces in the Chinese market.
According to data recently disclosed by Volvo Cars, its global sales for the full year 2025 fell by 7% to 710,000 vehicles. Breaking down by powertrain, pure electric vehicle sales dropped by 13%, hybrid sales decreased by 3%, and internal combustion engine vehicle sales declined by 6%. Regionally, sales in Europe fell by 10%, U.S. sales decreased by 3%, and sales in China dropped by 4%.
Specifically in the Chinese market, Volvo sold 149,500 vehicles in 2025, down 4% from 156,400 vehicles in 2024. Sales of pure electric models plummeted by 46% to just 2,342 units, while sales of internal combustion engine vehicles fell by 13% to 122,600 units. Although hybrid vehicle sales saw significant growth, it was insufficient to offset the overall decline.
Won't Sacrifice Safety, Won't Trade Price for Volume! Can the CEO's Words Be Trusted? Regarding safety and pricing issues, Yuan Xiaolin, Senior Vice President of Volvo Car Group, President and CEO of Volvo Car Asia-Pacific, had previously made clear statements in an interview.
On safety, he stated, "Even though competition is exceptionally fierce currently, Volvo will not compromise on quality and safety to seize short-term market share. We firmly believe that once an automaker makes compromises on quality and safety, it signifies 'death'."
He also emphasized that Volvo's commitment to safety and quality is not only ingrained in its product DNA and manufacturing standards but also permeates every aspect of the consumer service experience for Volvo users.
However, judging by the current battery safety issues with the Volvo EX30, Volvo and Yuan Xiaolin have undoubtedly broken their promise, as the official stance has not seriously addressed the battery safety concerns of domestic EX30 owners.
An analysis by the "Next-Generation Auto Research" column found that in 2025 alone, Volvo conducted four recalls in China. Overall, these recalls involved vulnerabilities related to both hardware and software. Coupled with the current battery safety controversy, the "safety" badge that Volvo has long prided itself on is perhaps increasingly losing its luster in the eyes of owners.
Regarding pricing, Yuan Xiaolin pointed out the need to adhere to a dynamic balance. He stated that the essence of business is sustainability, requiring the establishment of a healthy cycle between cost, pricing, and value. Relying solely on price to drive sales is a misconception, and simplifying market competition to a "price reduction logic" is clearly inadvisable.
Yet, based on the current deep discounts of 50% and 40% on multiple Volvo models, his public statements on this matter also appear to have been broken.
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