AEG Power Tools 58V product line discontinuation

AEG Power Tools, a brand operated by Techtronic Industries (TTI) under license from Electrolux, discontinued its 58V outdoor power equipment battery platform at the end of 2024.^[1] The decision affected customers in Australia and New Zealand who had purchased tools from the 58V range, as the proprietary batteries required to operate these tools are no longer manufactured.^[1] AEG offered no trade-in program, rebate, or adapter to help customers transition to the replacement 18V platform.^[1] Customers who purchased 58V tools at authorized retailers, primarily Bunnings Warehouse, reported that products continued to be sold at or near original prices without point-of-sale warnings about the impending battery unavailability.^[2]

Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd. is a Hong Kong-based multinational that designs and manufactures power tools, outdoor power equipment, and floor care products. Founded in 1985, TTI is listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong and reported global revenue of US$14.6 billion in 2024.^[3] TTI's brand portfolio includes Milwaukee, Ryobi, and Ridgid (the last under license from Emerson Electric).^[4] The AEG brand name traces to Allgemeine Elektricitäts-Gesellschaft, a German company originally founded as DEG in 1883 and renamed AEG in 1887. The trademark is now owned by AB Electrolux, which licenses it to TTI for power tools sold primarily in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.^[5] In Australia, AEG power tools are sold almost exclusively through Bunnings Warehouse and Tool Kit Depot.

AEG introduced its 58V Commercial Series of outdoor power tools in 2016, positioning the line as a battery-powered alternative to petrol-powered landscaping equipment.^[6] TTI's 2016 annual report listed "AEG 58V lawn mower, blower, chain saw, hedge trimmer and line trimmer" as part of its expanded product range.^[7] The range was relaunched with an expanded lineup in 2022 following global chip shortages, adding a 21-inch self-propelled mower, brushcutter, and backpack sprayer alongside upgraded 8.0Ah "ULTIMATE HD" batteries.^[8] The full 58V product lineup at its peak included a self-propelled mower, push mower, chainsaw, line trimmer, brushcutter, hedge trimmer, backpack blower, jet blower, and backpack sprayer.^[8]

The 58V platform used proprietary batteries incompatible with AEG's 18V tool range. Each 58V tool required a dedicated 58V battery to operate; no adapter or cross-platform compatibility existed.^[1]

AEG published a FAQ page announcing that "AEG's 58V cordless Outdoor Equipment range will be discontinued by the end of 2024."^[1] The company stated it was shifting focus to "the global 18V battery platform, with several product innovations set to launch from 2025, including FORCE TABLESS battery cell technology and dual 18V Outdoor Equipment tools."^[1] An identical FAQ was published on the New Zealand AEG website.^[9]

The FAQ confirmed that no new 58V products would be manufactured, and that remaining stock would continue to be sold until depleted: "While no further AEG 58V products are being manufactured, 58V products will be available for purchase until all remaining stock is sold."^[1]

The FAQ stated: "No additional stock will be available once the AEG 58V batteries are sold out."^[1] By January 2025, customers reported that batteries were almost entirely unavailable. One Whirlpool Forums user wrote in January 2025 that "ALL AEG 58V devices are being discontinued including the batteries," adding that AEG confirmed batteries were "NONE AVAILABLE IN AUSTRALIA and will not be stocked."^[2] A stock check across all Australian Bunnings locations in February 2025 found only 10 units of the 8Ah battery remaining nationwide.^[10]

As of March 2026, AEG's own Australian product page for the 58V range lists only the 58V Charger (model ABC58S) at A$153.08, marked as clearance. No batteries or tools remain listed.^[11] No major third-party battery manufacturers produce AEG 58V compatible batteries, though some aftermarket replacements have appeared from smaller suppliers.^[10]

The 58V platform was subject to two product safety recalls before its discontinuation, both involving fire risk.

In November 2016, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) published an extended recall for the AEG 58V Brushless Chainsaw (model ACS58B). The recall stated that "if the chainsaw becomes jammed and the operator attempts to release it by cycling the ignition trigger, the chainsaw may fail, smoke or catch fire." Affected units had been sold at Bunnings between March and October 2016.^[12]

In February 2023, the ACCC recalled the 58V 4Ah Ultimate Battery (A58BAT14) and 58V 8Ah Ultimate HD Battery (A58BAT18) with manufacturing codes from the second half of 2022. These batteries had been sold nationally from 26 September 2022 to 5 January 2023. The recall stated: "A component in the battery may fail causing the battery to overheat and ignite," posing a "risk of fire or burn injury."^[13] Product Safety New Zealand issued a parallel recall for the same batteries.^[14] Affected batteries had been sold through Bunnings and Tool Kit Depot stores. Consumers were told to stop using the batteries immediately and contact Techtronic Industries Australia Pty Limited for a replacement or refund.

The 2023 battery recall removed a portion of the already limited battery supply from circulation less than two years before the platform was discontinued entirely.^[13][1]

AEG stated that it would "continue to honour warranties and provide customer support for the discontinued product, including repairs and replacements where applicable."^[1] The company recommended that customers "explore their 18V options for suitable alternatives."^[1]

AEG offers a standard 36-month warranty on cordless tools (12V, 18V, and 58V), extendable to 72 months (6 years) through online registration within 30 days of purchase. Batteries carry a 12-month standard warranty, extendable to 36 months (3 years).^[15] This means a customer who purchased a 58V tool in late 2022 and registered the warranty has tool coverage until late 2028, but their battery warranty expired by late 2025. If the battery fails outside warranty, there is no replacement available.

No trade-in program, rebate, battery exchange, or transition discount was offered to 58V customers.^[1] AEG's 18V replacement platform, which launched FORCE TABLESS batteries in February 2025, requires entirely new tools; 58V tools cannot operate on 18V batteries.^[1]

The discontinuation left customers with functional tools that cannot operate without proprietary batteries that are no longer manufactured. Customers who invested in multiple 58V tools (mower, trimmer, chainsaw, blower) face the loss of an entire equipment ecosystem with no manufacturer-supported transition path.

Under the Australian Consumer Law (Schedule 2 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010), manufacturers are required to take reasonable action to ensure that spare parts and repair facilities are available for a reasonable time after purchase.^[16] The only exception is if the manufacturer advised the consumer in writing, at or before the time of purchase, that spare parts would not be available after a specified date.^[16] Consumer advocacy group CHOICE explains the standard: "Reasonable will depend on the type of item bought. So tyres for a new model motorbike should be available years after you buy it."^[17] The Victorian Government's Consumer Affairs guidance states that a failure to provide spare parts constitutes a major problem if "a reasonable consumer would not have bought it if they had known beforehand that spare parts or repairs would not be available."^[18]

Customers reported that 58V tools continued to be sold at Bunnings without staff informing buyers of the discontinuation or the approaching battery unavailability. Products were marked as "Clearance" on the AEG website but prices remained close to original retail levels.^[2] The 58V range is sold exclusively through Bunnings and Tool Kit Depot in Australia; there is no alternative authorized retailer or competitive pricing pressure.^[1]

On ProductReview.com.au, multiple customers posted negative reviews describing their experience. One wrote: "Having spent a few thousand dollars on their 58v tools as a home owner, AEG and BUNNINGS have discontinued the format which renders all my tools useless." Another reported going through eight failed batteries before the line was discontinued entirely.^[19]

A Whirlpool Forums thread spanning from 2017 to 2026 documents the 58V platform's lifecycle from initial purchase recommendations through to the discontinuation backlash. Users reported that despite registering their products, they received no notification from AEG about the discontinuation or battery recalls.^[10] One user summarized the situation: "dead batteries and lack of support can render a product useless. And even worse we can't switch between other brands."^[10]

Some customers attempted DIY repairs on failed 58V batteries, including replacing internal cells and repairing components on the battery management boards.^[10] Others called for a class action against AEG over the battery quality and the abandonment of the platform.^[19]

The discontinuation mirrors similar incidents across the power tool industry. DeWalt discontinued its 40V Max outdoor platform less than five years after its introduction, around 2019, stranding customers as replacement batteries became unavailable.^[20] Oregon discontinued its 120V Professional Series in December 2020, also leaving professional landscapers with unsupported equipment.^[21] When DeWalt transitioned its older 18V NiCad platform to 20V Max, it sold a DCA1820 adapter allowing 20V batteries to power 18V tools.^[22] AEG provided no equivalent adapter for the 58V-to-18V transition.