Fake Nokia, Motorola Batteries in China May Explode
July 6 (Bloomberg) -- Nokia Oyj and Motorola Inc., the world's biggest mobile-phone makers, said Chinese authorities in the southern province of Guangdong found four counterfeit battery models that may explode in their handsets.
``We are cooperating with the Guangdong government on further investigations,'' said Yang Boning, a Beijing-based spokesman for Motorola. Cai Yun, a Beijing-based spokeswoman for Nokia, said the Finnish company is willing to provide original batteries to authorities for testing.
A Chinese man was killed in western Gansu province when the battery in his Motorola handset exploded, the Lanzhou Morning Post reported this week. More than 10 million fake handset batteries may be produced each year in China, the world's biggest mobile market by users, with about 15 percent exported, mostly to developing nations in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, said Yang Yuxing, an analyst at researcher BDA China Ltd.
``Fake batteries are very widespread in poorer areas, where people use their handsets longer and have to replace their batteries more often,'' Yang said. An authentic Nokia or Motorola battery may be seven times more expensive than a fake one, he said.
Foshan Weierrui Telecommunications Equipment Ltd. sold two batteries for use in Motorola phones that could explode, according to a statement by the Guangdong Industry and Commerce Administration Office yesterday. The batteries were labeled as being made by Schaumburg, Illinois-based Motorola, the agency said.
Nokia, Sanyo
Guangzhou Jietong Telecommunications Equipment Ltd. also was named for selling a battery used in Motorola handsets that could explode. The power packs list Motorola as the maker, the agency said. Sales of the fake batteries have stopped, the agency said.
Foshan Weierrui also sold a battery model for use in Nokia handsets that could explode, according to the statement. The battery listed Japan's Sanyo Electric Co. as the manufacturer.
Nokia has never authorized a third party to make such a battery, Cai said. ``It is a fake battery for sure,'' she said.
Motorola's Yang said the company has no relationship with either of the Chinese companies.
Sanyo spokesman Akihiko Oiwa said the Osaka-based company is conducting its own investigation. ``We will announce the results as soon as it's completed,'' he said by telephone.
Safety Concerns
The statement from the regulator didn't mention any penalties against the Chinese companies. Calls to the government agency's office seeking comment weren't answered. Calls to Zhong Ming, marketing head at Guangzhou Jietong, seeking comment went unanswered. A number for Foshan Weierrui couldn't be located.
Recent scandals involving Chinese exports of poisonous products ranging from pet food to toothpaste have led the government to increase scrutiny of consumer goods. A survey found 19 percent of food, farm products and consumer goods sold domestically didn't meet safety and quality standards, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said this week.
``We have always been very serious about counterfeit products and will continue to crack down,'' said Wang Lijian, Beijing-based spokesman for the Ministry of Information Industry, which regulates China's telephone market. Wang said he couldn't estimate how many fake batteries are made in China each year.
China, home to 494.6 million mobile-phone users at the end of May, has more wireless subscribers than the combined populations of the U.S. and Japan, according to government data.
Xiao Jinpeng, 22, was killed June 19 when the handset battery in his shirt pocket exploded, causing his ribs to splinter and pierce his heart, the Lanzhou Morning Post reported July 4 on its Web site. Motorola is investigating the incident and hasn't determined yet if the handset is a Motorola phone, spokesman Yang said today.
``We are cooperating with the Guangdong government on further investigations,'' said Yang Boning, a Beijing-based spokesman for Motorola. Cai Yun, a Beijing-based spokeswoman for Nokia, said the Finnish company is willing to provide original batteries to authorities for testing.
A Chinese man was killed in western Gansu province when the battery in his Motorola handset exploded, the Lanzhou Morning Post reported this week. More than 10 million fake handset batteries may be produced each year in China, the world's biggest mobile market by users, with about 15 percent exported, mostly to developing nations in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, said Yang Yuxing, an analyst at researcher BDA China Ltd.
``Fake batteries are very widespread in poorer areas, where people use their handsets longer and have to replace their batteries more often,'' Yang said. An authentic Nokia or Motorola battery may be seven times more expensive than a fake one, he said.
Foshan Weierrui Telecommunications Equipment Ltd. sold two batteries for use in Motorola phones that could explode, according to a statement by the Guangdong Industry and Commerce Administration Office yesterday. The batteries were labeled as being made by Schaumburg, Illinois-based Motorola, the agency said.
Nokia, Sanyo
Guangzhou Jietong Telecommunications Equipment Ltd. also was named for selling a battery used in Motorola handsets that could explode. The power packs list Motorola as the maker, the agency said. Sales of the fake batteries have stopped, the agency said.
Foshan Weierrui also sold a battery model for use in Nokia handsets that could explode, according to the statement. The battery listed Japan's Sanyo Electric Co. as the manufacturer.
Nokia has never authorized a third party to make such a battery, Cai said. ``It is a fake battery for sure,'' she said.
Motorola's Yang said the company has no relationship with either of the Chinese companies.
Sanyo spokesman Akihiko Oiwa said the Osaka-based company is conducting its own investigation. ``We will announce the results as soon as it's completed,'' he said by telephone.
Safety Concerns
The statement from the regulator didn't mention any penalties against the Chinese companies. Calls to the government agency's office seeking comment weren't answered. Calls to Zhong Ming, marketing head at Guangzhou Jietong, seeking comment went unanswered. A number for Foshan Weierrui couldn't be located.
Recent scandals involving Chinese exports of poisonous products ranging from pet food to toothpaste have led the government to increase scrutiny of consumer goods. A survey found 19 percent of food, farm products and consumer goods sold domestically didn't meet safety and quality standards, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said this week.
``We have always been very serious about counterfeit products and will continue to crack down,'' said Wang Lijian, Beijing-based spokesman for the Ministry of Information Industry, which regulates China's telephone market. Wang said he couldn't estimate how many fake batteries are made in China each year.
China, home to 494.6 million mobile-phone users at the end of May, has more wireless subscribers than the combined populations of the U.S. and Japan, according to government data.
Xiao Jinpeng, 22, was killed June 19 when the handset battery in his shirt pocket exploded, causing his ribs to splinter and pierce his heart, the Lanzhou Morning Post reported July 4 on its Web site. Motorola is investigating the incident and hasn't determined yet if the handset is a Motorola phone, spokesman Yang said today.
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