20P2197234 – Internal Contacting High-Voltage Battery – 2019 Smart Fortwo Electric Drive

February 24, 2020 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V107000

High-Voltage Battery May Fail

If the high-voltage battery fails, the vehicle may stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, an electrical arc inside the battery increases the risk of a fire.

 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V107

Manufacturer Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC.

Components ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Potential Number of Units Affected 1

 

Summary

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling one 2019 Smart Fortwo Electric Drive vehicle. A welded joint within the high-voltage battery main cell conductors may detach and interrupt electrical contact, resulting in sudden battery failure. The detached weld may also cause an electrical arc which can ignite inside the battery cells.

 

Remedy

MBUSA will notify the owner, and a dealer will replace the high-voltage battery, free of charge. The recall began May 8, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA’s number for this recall is 2020030009.

 

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

 

Check if your Smart has a Recall

 

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Campaign No. :	NHTSA ID	Campaign Desc. :	Internal Contacting High-Voltage Battery
TBA	20V107	20P2197234
This is to notify you of a new Recall Campaign regarding the internal contacting high-voltage battery in 1 Model Year (“MY”) 2019 smart EQ (453 platform) vehicle. The recall campaign will be visible on the www.safercar.gov website and may generate questions from customers. Affected VINs will be flagged in VMI as “PENDING” on March 2, 2020.
Background
Issue		Mercedes-Benz AG (“MBAG”), the manufacturer of Mercedes-Benz vehicles, has determined that on a certain Model Year (“MY”) 2019 Smart EQ fortwo electric drive vehicle (453 platform), the cell-internal welding of the main cell conductors (connecting the individual cells and cell modules) of the high-voltage battery might not meet current production specifications.In case of an insufficient welding of the main cell conductor, the welded joint might detach under thermomechanical loads or vibrations.  As a result, the electrical contact within a cell of the high-voltage battery could be interrupted, leading to immediate failure of the entire high-voltage battery.  This condition would lead to a loss of propulsion and therefore a stalling of the vehicle while driving. Depending on the characteristic of the detachment of the welded joint of the main cell conductor, an electric arc occurrence cannot be completely ruled out. In this case, neighboring cells could ignite thereby increasing the risk of fire.
What We’re Doing		MBUSA will conduct a voluntary recall.  An authorized Mercedes-Benz smart dealer will replace the high-voltage battery on the affected vehicle.
Parts		A remedy is not yet available. An additional notification will be sent once a remedy is available.
Vehicles Affected
Vehicle Model Year(s)		2019
Vehicle Model		Smart EQ fortwo
Vehicle Populations
Total Recall Population		1
Total Vehicles in Dealer Inventory		0
Given this notice, it is a violation of Federal law for a dealer to sell or lease any new MY19 smart  EQ electric drive  vehicles in dealer inventory covered by this notification until the vehicle has been repaired.  Once the remedy is available, the vehicles will be flagged as “OPEN” and Work Instructions will be available in Star TekInfo.  Once the repair is complete the vehicle may be sold or leased. Loaner and demonstrator vehicles may continue to be driven, but must not be retailed until repaired.  Additionally, given this notice, it is a violation of Federal Law for car rental companies to rent MY19 smart  EQ electric drive vehicles covered by this notification until the vehicle has been repaired.
Next Steps/Notes
Customer Notification Timeline		Customer letter mailing timelines are pending.
AOMS/SOMS		AOMs – This recall may generate questions from your dealers. Please forward this notice to your dealers ASAP.
Rental Fleet Partners		This recall may affect vehicles in your fleet. Please contact your respective MBUSA fleet representative for further information and next steps. For repairs, please contact your preferred MBUSA dealer.
While we regret any inconvenience this may cause, MBUSA is determined to maintain a high level of vehicle quality and customer satisfaction. Please refer all customer inquiries to the Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-FOR-MERCEDES.

 

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IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL
This INTERIM notice applies to your vehicle, VIN:
Replace High-Voltage Battery
NHTSA Recall # 20V107

 

March, 2020

Dear smart Owner:

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

Mercedes-Benz AG (“MBAG”), the manufacturer of smart vehicles, has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in a certain Model Year (“MY”) 2019 smart EO fortwo vehicle. Our records indicate that your vehicle is the affected vehicle.

 

What is the Concern?

MBAG determined that on a certain MY 19 smart EO fortwo electric drive vehicle (453 platform), the cell-internal welding of the main cell conductors (connecting the individual cells and cell modules) of the high-voltage battery might not meet current production specifications. In case of an insufficient welding of the main cell conductor, the welded joint might detach under therrnornechanical loads or vibrations. As a result, the electrical contact within a cell of the high-voltage battery could be interrupted, leading to failure of the entire high-voltage battery. This condition would lead to a loss of propulsion and a stalling of the vehicle while driving, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, depending on the characteristic of the detachment of the welded joint of the main cell conductor, an electric arc could possibly occur. In this case, neighboring cells could ignite thereby increasing the risk of fire.

An authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer smart dealer will replace the high-voltage battery on the affected vehicle.

Unfortunately, the parts to remedy this situation are not available. We are working to obtain the necessary parts as quickly as possible. As parts become available, we will send you another letter asking you to take your vehicle to an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer to have the recall repair completed free of charge.

Should you have any concerns or questions regarding your vehicle before you receive the next recall letter when parts are available, please contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer. If for any reason a dealer is unable to resolve your question or concern, we are always happy to hear from you. Please contact us at 1-800-367-6372. A new vehicle identification number (VIN)-based recall lookup tool, on our MEUSA.corn website, now offers a search function that will indicate whether a vehicle has been subject to a safety recall, and whether that vehicle has had the free remedy performed. Please visit www.MBUSA.com/recall.

If you are no longer the vehicle owner, or have a change of address, please complete the reverse side of this letter and return the complete letter in the enclosed envelope. If this is a leased vehicle and the lessor and registered owner receive this notice, please forward this information by first class mail to the lessee within 10 days to comply with federal regulations.

If a Mercedes-Benz dealer for any reason is unable to remedy the situation without charge, or within a reasonable amount of time, pursuant to law 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301, you may submit a complaint to the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20590 or call the toll-free Auto Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153); or go to https://www.safercar.gov.

We regret any inconvenience this situation may cause you.

Sincerely,

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
A Mercedes-Benz AG Company
One Mercedes-Benz Drive
Sandy Springs, GA 30328
Phone(770)705-0600

IMPORTANT VIN:

If for any reason YOU NO LONGER OWN THIS VEHICLE OR have a CHANGE OF ADDRESS, please COMPLETE THE SECTION BELOW, place in the ENCLOSED ENVELOPE, and DROP IN ANY MAIL BOX. If possible, provide the name and address of the present owner so that we may contact them.

 

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TO: Mercedes-Benz Dealer Principals, General Managers, Sales Managers, Service Managers, Parts Managers	FROM:  Gregory Gunther, Department Manager, Vehicle Compliance and Analysis, Engineering Services
RE: Recall Campaign Launch Notification Internal contacting high-voltage battery MY 19 453 smart ( FORTWO ELECTRIC DRIVE)	DATE: May 7, 2020

 

IMPORTANT RECALL CAMPAIGN UPDATE

Please see the attached documents related to the campaign listed above.

 

Please note that all customer inquiries should be directed to the Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-FOR-MERCEDES.

 

Sincerely,
Gregory Gunther
Department Manager, Vehicle Compliance & Analysis

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Recall Campaign Launch Notification			May 7, 2020
Campaign No. :	NHTSA ID	Campaign Desc. :	Internal Contacting High-Voltage Battery
2020030009	20V107	20P5490201
This is to notify you of a Recall Campaign Launch regarding the internal contacting high-voltage battery in 1 Model Year (“MY”) 2019 smart EQ (453 platform) vehicle. The recall campaign will be visible on the www.safercar.gov website and may generate questions from customers. Affected VINs will be flagged in VMI as “OPEN” on May 7, 2020.
Background
Issue		Mercedes-Benz AG (“MBAG”), the manufacturer of smart vehicles, has determined that on a certain Model Year (“MY”) 2019 smart EQ fortwo electric drive vehicle (453 platform), the cell-internal welding of the main cell conductors (connecting the individual cells and cell modules) of the highvoltage battery might not meet current production specifications. In case of an insufficient welding of the main cell conductor, the welded joint might detach under thermo-mechanical loads or vibrations.  As a result, the electrical contact within a cell of the high-voltage battery could be interrupted, leading to immediate failure of the entire high-voltage battery.  This condition would lead to a loss of propulsion and therefore a possible stalling of the vehicle while driving. Depending on the characteristic of the detachment of the welded joint of the main cell conductor, an electric arc occurrence cannot be completely ruled out. In this case, neighboring cells could ignite thereby increasing the risk of fire.
What We’re Doing		MBUSA will conduct a voluntary recall.  An authorized Mercedes-Benz smart dealer will replace the high-voltage battery on the affected vehicle.
Parts		Parts are available and can be ordered as necessary.
Vehicles Affected
Vehicle Model Year(s)		2019
Vehicle Model		smart EQ fortwo
Vehicle Populations
Total Recall Population		1
Total Vehicles in Dealer Inventory		0
Given this notice, it is a violation of Federal law for a dealer to sell or lease any new MY19 smart  EQ electric drive  vehicles in dealer inventory covered by this notification until the vehicle has been repaired.  Once the remedy is available, the vehicles will be flagged as “OPEN” and Work Instructions will be available in Star TekInfo.  Once the repair is complete the vehicle may be sold or leased.  Loaner and demonstrator vehicles may continue to be driven, but must not be retailed until repaired.  Additionally, given this notice, it is a violation of Federal Law for car rental companies to rent MY19 smart  EQ electric drive vehicles covered by this notification until the vehicle has been repaired.
Next Steps/Notes
Customer Notification Timeline		The customer letter will be mailed approximately one week after the remedy becomes available.
AOMS/SOMS		AOMs – This recall may generate questions from your dealers. Please forward this notice to your dealers ASAP.
Rental Fleet Partners		This recall may affect vehicles in your fleet. Please contact your respective MBUSA fleet representative for further information and next steps. For repairs, please contact your preferred MBUSA dealer.
While we regret any inconvenience this may cause, MBUSA is determined to maintain a high level of vehicle quality and customer satisfaction. Please refer all customer inquiries to the Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-FOR-MERCEDES.

 

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Campaign No. 2020030009, May 2020

TO:	ALL MERCEDES-BENZ CENTERS
SUBJECT:	Model smart EQ fortwo electric drive vehicle (453 platform) Model Year 2019 Internal Contacting High-Voltage Battery

 

Mercedes-Benz AG (“MBAG”), the manufacturer of smart vehicles, has determined that on a certain Model Year (“MY”) 2019 Smart EQ fortwo electric drive vehicle (453 platform), the cell-internal welding of the main cell conductors (connecting the individual cells and cell modules) of the high-voltage battery might not meet current production specifications. In case of an insufficient welding of the main cell conductor, the welded joint might detach under thermomechanical loads or vibrations. As a result, the electrical contact within a cell of the high-voltage battery could be interrupted, leading to immediate failure of the entire high-voltage battery. This condition would lead to a loss of propulsion and therefore a possible stalling of the vehicle while driving. Depending on the characteristic of the detachment of the welded joint of the main cell conductor, an electric arc occurrence cannot be completely ruled out. In this case, neighboring cells could ignite thereby increasing the risk of fire. An authorized Mercedes-Benz smart dealer will replace the high-voltage battery on the affected vehicle.

 

Prior to performing this Recall Campaign:

• VMI must always be checked before performing campaigns to verify that the campaign is required on a specific vehicle. Always check for any other open campaigns, and perform accordingly.
• Please review the entire Recall Campaign bulletin and follow the repair procedure exactly as described.

Please note that Recall Campaigns do not expire and may also be performed on a vehicle with a vehicle status indicator.

Approximately 1 vehicles are involved.

Order No. P-RC-2020030009

 

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WARNING! 

Due to risk of technician personal injury and/or damage to the vehicle.  smart dealers not yet trained or not yet properly equipped with the required tools and equipment need to direct any smart electric drive vehicle customer to the nearest properly trained and equipped smart electric drive dealer.

  

Work procedure 

Note:

• Use DAS/Xentry 12/19 with all associated patches or higher.
• Follow the steps exactly as described in DAS/Xentry.
• Connect battery charger (battery voltage >12.5V).
• Ensure all electrical consumers are switched-off.
• In the event of software/SCN update issues, contact Star Diagnosis User Help Desk. Please refer to the “precall” check list before contacting UHD
• Refer to Star Diagnosis System (SDS) Best Practices Guide.

 

Note:

Work on a electric drive system components may only be conducted by certified workshop personnel who have completed training courses: Tech 961 and Tech 717

For the scopes of work described below, the safety regulations and hazard notes apply for work on high-voltage systems.

 

Information on this in WIS under AH54.10-P-0006-01MEV

 

WARNING! Risk of death and personal injury may occur when touching components on vehicles with high-voltage on-board electrical system if not done properly. Do not touch components and open lines of the high-voltage on-board electrical system.

Persons who are carriers of electronic implants (e.g. cardiac pacemakers) should not carry out any work on high-voltage on-board electrical systems due to increased risk of death or personal injury.

 

1. Replace high-voltage battery (AR54.10-P-1140SRE).

 

Note: Be sure to print-out the following documents before removing the high voltage battery:

• The Analysis sheet for transportability of high-voltage batteries form found in WIS:

OF54.10-P-3000-01F and the measurement log for self discharge from Star Diagnosis. The documents must be filled out and placed in with the return part.

 

Note: Remove and transfer all caps and plugs from the new high voltage battery to the old high voltage battery.

 

Note:

Shipping information:

1. Battery is currently authorized for ground transportation only.
2. Return original battery to QEC
3. Battery has passed the UN 38.3 Test & Criteria for both the cells and full battery assembly as referenced in WIS.
4. Only the packaging in which the battery was received is authorized for re-shipment of the battery. The dealer hazmat employees responsible for packaging and reshipping the battery must be packaged exactly as the new one came with all the same components. The UN certified packaging is a “packaging system” where all the components (outer crate, interior dunnage, plastic liner etc) must be used and in good condition (that is suitable for hazardous materials transportation).
5. Those shipping the battery must be hazmat trained for ground transportation. Battery must be safe for transport. If the battery is safe for transport, The NetStar Parts Disposition system will provide a partially prepopulated FedEx Freight BOL when the dealer generates a Load List and confirms the battery is Safe For Transport (SFT) to the QEC. If the battery is not safe for transport contact Esmeralda Custodio at the QEC 1-904-443-2441.
6. Please follow the shipping guidelines in the Attached “Dangerous Goods Shipping Guidance” document.

 

Primary Parts Information

Qty.	Part Name	Part Number
1	Li-ion battery	A 789 340 89 11

 

Warranty Information 

Operation: Replace high-voltage battery smart fortwo ev (02-1472)

Damage Code	Operation Number	Labor Time (hrs.)
54 902 01 7	02-1472	2.9

 

Note

Operation Number labor times are subject to change.

 

P-RC-2020030009

 

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IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL 2020030009
This notice applies to your vehicle, VIN:
Replace High-Voltage Battery
NHTSA Recall # 20V107

 

May, 2020

A remedy is available for your vehicle. Schedule an appointment with your authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer as soon as possible. This repair will be provided free of charge.

 

2020030009

Dear smart Owner:

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

Mercedes-Benz AG (“MBAG”), the manufacturer of smart vehicles, has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in a certain Model Year (“MY”) 2019 smart EQ fortwo vehicle. Our records indicate that your vehicle is included in the affected vehicles.

What is the CONCERN?	MBAG determined that on a certain MY 19 smart EQ fortwo electric drive vehicle (453 platform), the cell-internal welding of the main cell conductors (connecting the individual cells and cell modules) of the high-voltage battery might not meet current production specifications. In case of an insufficient welding of the main cell conductor, the welded joint might detach under thermomechanical loads or vibrations. As a result, the electrical contact within a cell of the high-voltage battery could be interrupted, leading to failure of the entire high-voltage battery.  This condition would lead to a loss    of propulsion and a stalling of the vehicle while driving, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, depending on the characteristic of the detachment of the welded joint of the main cell conductor, an electric arc could possibly occur. In this case, neighboring cells could ignite thereby increasing the risk of fire.
What will your DEALER DO?	An authorized  Mercedes-Benz smart dealer will replace the high-voltage battery on the affected  vehicle.    This service will be provided free of charge. We are dedicated to always delivering the best customer experience, and respect for your time is a top priority. While the minimum repair time can be less than 3.5 hours, your dealer can provide you with a better estimate of the overall time for this service visit. As a matter of normal service process, an authorized Mercedes-Benz smart dealer will also check for other repair measures which might be applicable to your vehicle which may increase the required working time.
What should YOU DO?	For additional information and to schedule an appointment, please contact your preferred authorized Mercedes-Benz smart dealer at your earliest convenience. To locate authorized dealers see www.MBUSA.com/recall. Please mention you are scheduling an appointment to replace the high-voltage battery under Recall Campaign # 2020030009. You may be asked for your 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) which for your convenience is located above your name at the top of this letter.
Information for Owners	In the event that you are no longer the vehicle owner, or have had a change of address, please complete the reverse side and return the updated information in the enclosed envelope. If this is a leased vehicle and the lessor and registered owner receive this notice, please forward this information by first class mail to the lessee within 10 business days to comply with Federal Regulations.

 

To find the most convenient  authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer from your smart phone, scan, the QR code to the left

 

A VIN-based recall lookup tool on our MBUSA.com website now offers a search feature that will indicate whether a vehicle has been subject to a safety recall, and whether that vehicle has had the free remedy performed. See www.mbusa.com/recall. Should you have any questions or encounter any difficulty regarding this Recall Campaign, please contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer. If for any reason a dealer is unable to remedy your situation, we are always happy to hear from you. Please contact us at 1-(800) FOR-MERCEDES (1-800-367-6372).

If an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer for any reason is unable to remedy the situation without charge, or within a reasonable amount of time, pursuant to law 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301, you may submit a complaint to the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20590 or call the toll-free Auto Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800424-9153); or go to https://www.safercar.gov.

We apologize for any inconvenience this situation may cause you.

Sincerely,

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
A Mercedes-Benz AG Company
One Mercedes-Benz Drive
Sandy Springs, GA  30328 Phone (770) 705-0600

IMPORTANT VIN:

If for any reason YOU NO LONGER OWN THIS VEHICLE OR have a CHANGE OF ADDRESS, please COMPLETE THE SECTION BELOW, place in the ENCLOSED ENVELOPE, and DROP IN ANY MAIL BOX. If possible, provide the name and address of the present owner so that we may contact them.

 

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TO: Mercedes-Benz Dealer Principals, General Managers, Sales Managers, Service Managers, Parts Managers	FROM:  Gregory Gunther, Department Manager, Vehicle Compliance and Analysis, Engineering Services
RE:   Recall Campaign Initial Notification Internal contacting high-voltage battery MY 19 453 smart ( FORTWO ELECTRIC DRIVE)	DATE: March 2, 2020

 

IMPORTANT RECALL CAMPAIGN INFORMATION

Please see the attached documents related to the campaign listed above.

 

Please note that all customer inquiries should be directed to the Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-FORMERCEDES.

 

Sincerely,

Gregory Gunther
Department Manager, Vehicle Compliance & Analysis

 

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1 Affected Product

Vehicle

MAKE	MODEL	YEAR
SMART	FORTWO	2019

 

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12 Associated Documents

Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc)- Recall Campaign Launch Notification Internal contacting high-voltage battery

RCMN-20V107-0254.pdf 546.795KB

 

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ISSUED Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RCONL-20V107-5575.pdf 550.432KB

 

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Recall 573 Report – Amendment 1

RCLRPT-20V107-3749.PDF 214.911KB

 

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Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc)- Recall Campaign Initial Notification Internal contacting high-voltage battery

RCMN-20V107-4593.pdf 171.958KB

 

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Defect Notice 573 Report

RCLRPT-20V107-4007.PDF 214.657KB

 

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Recall Acknowledgement

RCAK-20V107-2144.pdf 244.204KB

 

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ISSUED Interim Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RIONL-20V107-8466.pdf 604.295KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #1, 2020-2

RCLQRT-20V107-7556.PDF 211.135KB

 

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Recall 573 Report – Amendment 2

RCLRPT-20V107-8551.PDF 214.912KB

 

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Remedy Instructions and TSB

RCRIT-20V107-1638.pdf 382.758KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #2, 2020-3

RCLQRT-20V107-1291.PDF 211.231KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #3, 2020-4

RCLQRT-20V107-1825.PDF 211.316KB

 

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Latest Recalls Documents

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/documentList.xhtml?docId=20V107&docType=RCL

 

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