'Battery Fire' Kona Electric Vehicle Owners Lose First Trial in Compensation Lawsuit

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Kona electric vehicle (EV) owners, who had repeatedly experienced fires due to battery-related issues, filed a lawsuit against Hyundai Motor Company, but the court did not accept it.

Seoul Central District Court. / Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

On the 7th, the Civil Division 34 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Kim Yangho) ruled against the plaintiffs in the first trial of a damages claim lawsuit worth approximately 1.38 billion KRW filed by 173 Kona EV owners, including Mr. Kang, against Hyundai Motor Company.

Hyundai Motor Company voluntarily recalled about 25,000 units in October 2020 after the Kona EV became controversial due to consecutive fires. After updating the Battery Management System (BMS), if abnormal signs of the battery such as excessive cell-to-cell voltage deviation or rapid temperature changes were detected, the battery was immediately replaced.

Mr. Kang and others filed the lawsuit in November of the same year, claiming the measures were 'insufficient.' They argued that the Kona EV's image had deteriorated, causing a drop in used car prices and resulting in financial and emotional damages.

The following year, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced that after investigating the matter, manufacturing defects were found in some high-voltage batteries produced at LG Energy Solution's Nanjing plant in China. Hyundai Motor Company and LG Energy Solution agreed to share the recall costs, estimated at up to 1.4 trillion KRW, in a 70:30 ratio. The Kona EV was discontinued in the domestic market in 2021.