Kia is recalling 1,200 EV6 and Niro EVs over faulty drive shafts
Kia is recalling just over 1,200 EV6 and Niro EVs over a faulty drive shaft that can result in a loss of power.
Kia is recalling certain EV6 and Niro EVs
The recall impacts the 2023 Kia EV6 and 2023-2024 Niro EV models. Kia says 1,243 vehicles are potentially affected.
In a letter to the NHTSA, Kia said it was recalling the EV6 and Niro EVs over a faulty drive shaft. One of the drive shafts may have been improperly heat-treated, allowing it to break under pressure, which could result in a loss of power.
Kia dealers will replace the faulty drive shafts with new, properly heat-treated units. The replacement will be free of charge.
Kia became aware of the problem after Kia HQ informed them of an incident in Turkey earlier this month.
After a field analysis showed no broken drive shafts involving the Niro EV, Kia found the EV6 had the same rear inner drive shaft supplier. Two potential EV6 incidents showed it may have been from improperly heat-treated parts.
Although no crashes or injuries were found, Kia is recalling the EVs out of caution. Owner notifications are expected to be mailed on March 9.
The impacted 2024 MY Niro EVs were produced from June 27, 2023, through July 13, 2023, while EV6 models were produced from January 26, 2023, to April 8, 2023. Kia says 204 Niro EVs and 1,039 EV6 models are affected.
You can contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542 with questions. The recall number is SC295. Owners can also call the NHTSA hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or go to nhtsa.gov. The NHTSA campaign number is 24V-057.
Electrek’s Take
Kia broke its January record with 1,213 EV6 models sold last month after selling nearly 19,000 last year. The automaker doesn’t provide a breakdown of Niro EV sales, but Kia sold 36,300 Niro models in total in 2023, including the PHEV.
That said, with only 1,243 models impacted, it’s a minor recall in the grand scheme of things.
With its first three-row electric SUV, the EV9, rolling out, Kia is seeing EV sales heat up in the US. Kia’s EV sales were up 57% last month compared to January 2023, with 1,408 EV9 and 1,213 EV6 models sold.
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Vammo, a battery-swapping service for electric motorcycles in Latin America, has just announced that the company has surpassed an impressive 1 million battery swaps in a little over a year.
The company has built its service around a combination of VMoto electric motorcycles and a battery-swapping service designed to keep those motorcycles rolling all day without stopping to charge.
Headquartered in São Paulo, Brazil, Vammo’s electric motorcycles and battery swap cabinets currently serve around 1,800 customers, with that number growing quickly. The service was launched just over a year ago and has already saved its customers a combined US $1.3 million in fuel costs. That’s on top of preventing the release of 3,050 tons of CO2 emissions.
Vammo’s subscription model saves users as much as 50% compared to gasoline-powered motorcycles, translating into annual savings of thousands of dollars. “Not only are we helping to cut carbon emissions by 85%, but we’re also putting significant savings back into the pockets of our customers,” said Jack Sarvary, Vammo’s co-founder and CEO. “Many of our users, especially delivery drivers, are saving as much as $2,000–$4,000 per year, making electric mobility both affordable and sustainable.”
That success has led to rapid growth for the company. Last year alone, Vammo saw 8x growth in both revenue and customer base.
“Our growth demonstrates the power of affordable, clean transportation,” said Billy Blaustein, Vammo’s COO. “We are proving that sustainable mobility can be both accessible and scalable.”
Vammo’s VMoto models have now become the #1 registered electric motorcycle brand in Brazil, likely making the company the top player in Latin America.
Battery swapping for electric motorcycles has gained significant interest in the last few years, especially as Gogoro has expanded its world-leading model for swappable electric scooter batteries. But unlike Gogoro, which built a swappable battery standard and then began persuading other companies to adopt it, Vammo built its service around existing electric motorcycles and their already operational battery designs.
Vammo began operations in São Paulo and has positioned its service as a solution not only for Brazil but also for broader Latin America.
Brazil is uniquely suited for electric motorcycles and battery swapping, as the country not only sells 4x the amount of motorcycles per year as the US, but has some of the cleanest electricity in the world. Over 90% of the country’s electricity is generated by clean sources, primarily hydroelectric power, with wind and solar also contributing to the mix. Compare that to the global average of just 13%.
Vammo is building on its momentum, recently announcing a partnership with app-based taxi provider 99, offering mototaxi drivers access to its electric motorcycles.
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