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CNBC – Amprius (Wuxi) Co. Ltd., a battery supplier for several mobile power bank brands, has been penalized by the Wuxi Municipal Market Supervision and Administration Bureau. According to a recent filing on Qichacha, a Chinese corporate information platform, the company faces fines and confiscations totaling approximately 3.74 million yuan (around $520,000 USD). The penalty was levied for selling power bank batteries, or “cells,” that lacked mandatory China Compulsory Certification (CCC) following an investigation into product compliance, and potentially hazardous incidents.
The investigation revealed multiple violations. These included selling batteries manufactured by other companies without proper CCC certification, continuing sales of non-compliant products during periods when their CCC certificates were suspended or revoked, and failing to re-certify products with updated materials before releasing them into the market. Regulators found that Amprius had failed to re-certify products after changes in raw material suppliers, a lapse that compromised both consumer safety and the integrity of the Chinese regulatory framework.
Specifically, authorities confiscated approximately 3.51 million yuan in illegal gains and imposed a fine of 230,000 yuan. The crackdown comes amid increased scrutiny of consumer electronics safety, particularly concerning lithium-ion battery technology prevalent in power banks and other portable devices. The incident also raises questions about Amprius’s internal quality control processes and communication with third-party manufacturers.
Public records indicate that Amprius (Wuxi) was established in November 2014 with a registered capital of $83.49 million USD. The legal representative is Xu Zifu. There have been changes recently to shareholders and board members. The parent company Amprius Inc. was dissolved, and ownership transferred to Amprius (Hong Kong-2) Co., Ltd in July.
Amprius supplies batteries to a variety of mobile power bank brands. These brands includes Anker Innovations, Romoss, Xiaomi, Ugreen and Baseus. The reliance of these brands on Amprius highlights the company’s influence on the power bank market, and amplifies consumer concerns regarding future battery quality.
Earlier this year, in June, several brands announced the recall of mobile power banks due to potential fire risks. Following these recall announcements, Amprius (Wuxi) had multiple 3C certifications for its related batteries and cells suspended. By July 6th, all 74 of the company’s 3C certificates had been suspended or revoked. On July 7th, the Wuxi Municipal Market Supervision Bureau sealed all battery cell products manufactured by Amprius and initiated a comprehensive inspection. The recent penalties highlight the stringent regulatory environment in China and the potential consequences for companies failing to meet certification standards. For instance, these changes to raw materials could have affected the battery’s thermal stability and resistance to overcharging. This ultimately put the users at risk, and thus, led to the investigation and following penalty imposition from the officials.
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