Mercedes-Benz Korea has been ordered to pay 1.42 million won to each of 142 electric vehicle owners after a consumer dispute panel found that battery-cell manufacturer information was not properly disclosed. The owners said they bought five EQE and EQS models between June 2023 and July 2024 believing they contained CATL cells, but later found that some used cells made by China’s Farasis.
The decision becomes equivalent to a court settlement only if both sides accept it within 15 days, while the Fair Trade Commission has separately fined Mercedes-Benz Korea and its German headquarters 11.239 billion won over the sales disclosures.