E.Go: Recall due to serious defects

The E.Go e-car is set back due to serious defects. An approximately eight-hour workshop visit is required to restore road safety. Affected are handbrake cables, front hood fixation and the front passenger airbag.

Years 2019 and 2020 affected

The Federal Motor Vehicle Administration has identified the electric car’s defects and issued the recall. It is stated that it will take around eight hours to rectify the defects and thus restore road safety. Specifically, the defects include the front hood latch, which can fail if not operated properly and thus become a hazard, the handbrake cables, which can jam due to corrosion or frost, and the front passenger airbag, which is only approved for series use for a limited time.

The passenger airbag and the handbrake cable are replaced as part of the repair. The retaining straps of the front hood will also be replaced. In addition, more controls and warnings are to be installed.

E.Go saved from bankruptcy

For E.Go the recall action should represent a clear load, was the Aachener enterprise, nevertheless only recently before the bankruptcy rescued, so that negative press comes at probably the worst time. The company was saved from bankruptcy by Industrial Investments. After a forced pause, production resumed in July of this year after fifteen months of downtime.

The bailout was accompanied by a significant restructuring of the company. In addition to the company name, the management and product strategy were changed. For example, the new cars are offered in more color variants and with significantly more powerful superchargers. How the recall will affect the company’s further development remains to be seen.