More than 1400 luxury electric cars have been recalled in Australia after the discovery a serious battery fault that can result in the vehicles losing power while driving. 

The Transport Department issued the recall on Tuesday affecting 1465 Mercedes-Benz vehicles sold in Australia, some of which cost more than $200,000. 

The recall comes after the same battery fault was identified in China and the United States. 

The vehicle fault affects some Mercedes-Benz EQE and EQS electric vehicle models and the government warns it could make the vehicles lose propulsion suddenly. 

“A software issue in the battery management system may cause deactivation of the high-voltage battery,” the recall said.

“A loss of propulsion whilst driving could increase the risk of an accident causing injury or death to vehicle occupants.”

The German automaker issued a recall of EQE and EQS electric vehicles in the US over the same issue on May 28, and in China last week. 

The issue also comes three months after a recall of 1983 Mercedes-Benz vehicles in Australia, including EQE and EQS models, over a manufacturing fault in their fuse boxes.

Affected vehicle owners are encouraged to contact their nearest Mercedes-Benz dealership to have the fault rectified without charge.