Recalls are already underway in Britain and the US, with the number of vehicles affected worldwide not immediately known. (EPA Images pic)BERLIN: Carmaker Volkswagen (VW) is preparing a recall in Germany affecting several thousand vehicles due to faulty high-voltage batteries, a spokesman said on Thursday, responding to a report in the business daily Handelsblatt, reported German Press Agency (dpa).

The company said internal quality checks had found that individual high-voltage battery cells in certain ID family vehicles did not meet quality requirements.

The defects originated in the production processes of suppliers and affected a limited production period, it said.

“In rare cases, this can lead to increased thermal stress on these batteries; in extreme cases, a fire could break out,” the company said.