Chinese electric vehicle maker Li Auto Inc. will recall 11,411 units of its 2024 MEGA model starting Nov. 7, following a vehicle fire incident in Shanghai, China’s market regulator announced Friday, reports Caixin. The State Administration for Market Regulation said Li Auto filed the recall voluntarily under China’s auto defect recall regulations. The move came days after a MEGA vehicle caught fire on Oct. 23 while in motion, sparking widespread public concern. No injuries were reported.
In its recall notice, Li Auto said the cause of the fire is still under investigation by local authorities, and that it is cooperating fully. Although the final technical cause has not been confirmed, Li Auto’s internal review found a potential safety risk linked to the vehicle’s coolant, prompting a proactive recall, Chief Executive Officer Li Xiang said in a social media post.
According to Li Auto, the coolant used in the affected MEGA vehicles lacks sufficient anti-corrosion properties. Under certain conditions, this could cause corrosion and leakage in the cooling plates for the battery pack and front motor controller, potentially leading to warning lights, power loss, or startup failure. In extreme cases, it could trigger thermal runaway of the battery.