Porsche suspends UK sales of Taycan EV amid battery safety concerns

Porsche has contacted its retailers to halt the sales of a batch of the Taycan EV. The electric sports car is being recalled because of a potential battery fire.

The root of the problem, according to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), is that the battery pack could short-circuit, which "could lead to thermal events and later to a fire in the vehicle." The DVSA is responsible for coordinating recalls when potential risks to passenger safety are discovered in automobiles.

Not all Taycan models are impacted, meaning customers can still purchase units outside of the affected batch. However, Porsche has promised a software fix that will detect the problem and warn the driver in July.

Porsche said in a statement, "Enhanced battery monitoring software is anticipated to become available for first-generation Taycan models towards the end of June. With its imminent arrival, we've advised our retail partners not to sell a small, specific batch of first-generation Taycan models until the software update is live."

The Taycan models have been subject to 12 safety recalls since their introduction. Past issues have included faulty cell blocks in the high-voltage battery, brake hose, and suspension problems. Porsche recently addressed the risk of tires falling off on the road on other models.