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A Mercedes-Benz EQE sedan exploded in the underground parking garage of an apartment complex in Incheon, west of Seoul, on Aug. 1, sparking a fire that injured about 20 people and damaged hundreds of other cars.
The plaintiffs lodged a suit with the Seoul Central District Court, seeking compensation over alleged misrepresentation of battery suppliers and safety concerns. The suit targets Mercedes-Benz's German headquarters, Mercedes-Benz Korea, several local dealerships and an automotive financing company.
They claim Mercedes-Benz misled consumers by suggesting the EQE models were equipped with batteries from CATL, the world's leading battery manufacturer.
The owners’ legal representative, Ha Jong-sun, said that a Mercedes-Benz executive made such a claim in a 2022 interview with Korean media.
A probe following the incident revealed that the EQE models have batteries from a lesser-known Chinese manufacturer, Farasis Energy.
"This is a false statement regarding a crucial aspect of the electric vehicle purchase transaction," Ha said.
The plaintiffs are demanding compensation of about 10 million won (US$7,400) each, with plans to increase the amount pending an investigation by Korea's Fair Trade Commission into false advertising claims, he said.
They also filed a claim for punitive damages, alleging Mercedes-Benz headquarters concealed defects in Farasis batteries despite being aware of them.
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