Hong Kong (Business Emerge) August 16: In response to potential safety risks associated with Takata airbags, German automaker BMW and its joint venture partner are set to recall a total of 1.36 million vehicles across China, according to the country’s market regulatory body.
The recall campaign, which is already underway, impacts both domestically produced and imported BMW models manufactured between 2003 and 2017, as stated by China’s State Administration for Market Regulation.
The initiative includes 598,496 vehicles from BMW Brilliance Automotive, the joint venture operating in northeast China, as well as 759,448 imported units distributed by BMW China Automobile Trading. The affected cars are subject to inspection and, if deemed defective, will have the driver’s front airbag replaced at no cost to the owner. This move is intended to mitigate any safety hazards posed by the faulty airbags.
The vehicles under recall predominantly feature steering wheel modifications conducted by owners, which may have led to the installation of Takata airbags prone to malfunction. The German car manufacturer emphasizes that customer safety is a top priority and is taking immediate action to resolve these issues.
In a related action, BMW also initiated the recall of approximately 394,000 vehicles in the United States earlier this year due to similar concerns over Takata airbag inflators, which have been linked to severe injuries or fatalities, as noted by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).