Okinawa Autotech has recalled 3,215 units of its Praise Pro electric scooter, marking the first instance of a voluntary recall by an electric vehicle manufacturer in India.
This Recall Decision comes weeks after an Okinawa scooter caught fire, in which a man and his thirteen-year-old daughter lost their lives.
At the time, the company claimed that the fire in its electric two-wheeler was “a clear case of short circuit due to negligence in charging the vehicle”. The company said it is waiting for the full investigation to come to light.
The recall also comes in the backdrop of NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant urging manufacturers to voluntarily recall EV batches involved in fire incidents.
Why the recall and what did the company say?
Okinawa Autotech said in a statement: “The battery will be checked for loose connectors or any damage and repaired free of charge at any of Okinawa authorized dealerships across India.”
“The Electric 2W manufacturer is working closely with dealer partners to ensure that the repair experience is tailored to the convenience of its customers, for which vehicle owners will be contacted individually,” Okinawa said.
Read More: Fire in 40 Electric Scooters of Jitendra EV Tech in Nashik
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Road Transport has also ordered a probe into the fire incidents and the Center for Fire Explosive and Environment Safety (CFEES), a unit of the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), to constitute and carry out an independent team.
While the conclusive reasons behind these incidents are not yet clear, industry experts have said that rising temperatures in the country and manufacturing defects – in both hardware and software – could be possible reasons behind the fire.
