Mercedes-Benz EQC Faces Lawsuit from 400 Owners Over Battery Capacity Reduction

[Consumer Rights Protection] Over 400 Mercedes-Benz EQC owners have jointly filed a lawsuit, alleging that an OTA update deliberately reduced battery capacity by 20%.

Key Development: Post-recall software update cuts range by nearly 100 km

EQC owners report that in June 2025, 13,447 vehicles were recalled due to battery thermal runaway risks. Following the mandatory software update, the full charge capacity dropped from approximately 80 kWh to 64 kWh, leaving the vehicle with a range of just over 200 kilometers—comparable to low-speed electric vehicles often nicknamed "Lao Tou Le" (Old Man's Joy).

Strategic Context: Safety justification fails to address lack of compensation

The manufacturer claims the capacity limitation was implemented to mitigate fire hazards and recommends capping charging at 80%. However, it has offered no compensation for the significant loss in driving range, sparking strong backlash from users.

Industry Impact: Trust crisis deepens for premium brands

This incident highlights automakers’ imbalance between software-based interventions and user rights, potentially accelerating regulatory scrutiny and standardization of so-called "battery locking" practices across the industry.