A battery module (5) for a motor vehicle. The battery module (5) includes a battery unit (2), a negative pole (21), a positive pole (22), a switching unit (60), which is connected electrically in series with the battery unit (2) and has at least one controllable switching element, and a management system (30) for controlling the at least one switching element. A hold circuit (40) is provided, which is connected to the management system (30) and to the switching unit (60) in such a way that a control signal from the management system (30) can be transferred through the hold circuit (40) to the switching unit (60), and is designed such that, in an active state of the hold circuit (40), a control signal from the management system (30) to open the at least one switching element can be transferred to the switching unit (60) with a time delay.