Samsung phone that catches fire ‘is taken out of production’
SAMSUNG has reportedly halted production of its Galaxy Note 7 smartphone amid fresh claims of the device catching fire.
The technology giant last month recalled millions of the phones after faulty batteries caused some to ignite or even explode.
But there are claims handsets sent out as replacements have sparked fires – and South Korean media reported that manufacturing had been suspended.
It casts further doubt over the UK launch of the flagship product – which had already been moved to October 28 as part of the replacement program.
Top US and Australian carriers have stopped sales or exchanges of Note 7s, while major airlines reiterated bans on passengers using the phones, after smoke from a replacement device forced the evacuation of a flight in the US last week.
A repeat of the fault would be a disaster for Samsung – the world’s largest smartphone maker – suggesting it has failed to fix a problem that has already hurt its brand.
Eric Schiffer of Reputation Management Consultants said: ‘If the Note 7 is allowed to continue it could lead to the single greatest act of brand self-destruction in the history of modern technology.’ In a statement, Samsung UK said: ‘ We are temporarily adjusting the Galaxy Note 7 production schedule in order to take further steps to ensure quality and safety matters.’ It did not comment on the UK release date.
In a separate filing to regulators, Samsung said it was adjusting shipments of Note 7s to allow for inspections and stronger quality control, because of some devices catching fire. It did not confirm or deny reports of a production halt.
Earlier yesterday, a Samsung official said the firm was investigating reports of ‘heat damage issues’ and would take immediate action to fix any problems.
The firm announced a global recall of 2.5million Note 7s on September 2 because of faulty batteries that caused some of the phones to catch fire. It ordered new batter- ies from another supplier and started shipping replacements two weeks later. But on October 5 a replacement Note 7 began smoking on a Southwest Airlines flight in the US.
US wireless carriers Verizon Communications and AT&T said yesterday they would stop issuing replacement Note 7s.
T-Mobile US said it was temporarily halting sales of new Note 7s, as well as exchanges, while Samsung investigated ‘ multiple reports of issues’ with the device.
Samsung shares, which have rebounded after an initial sell-off on the recall, closed down 1.5 per cent in Seoul. Park Jung-hoon of HDC Asset Management, which owns Samsung shares, said: ‘I think the cleanest thing to do is to give up on the Note 7 … this is causing people to repeatedly doubt Samsung’s fundamental capabilities.’