BMW, Joint Venture Recall 1.36 Mln Cars in China

The Chinese market regulator announced on Friday that BMW and its joint venture are recalling 1.36 million vehicles due to potential risks associated with airbags produced by Takata.

The State Administration for Market Regulation revealed that the recall affects vehicles manufactured between 2003 and 2017 and will commence immediately.

According to the announcement, BMW Brilliance Automotive, a joint venture based in northeast China, will recall 598,496 domestically produced vehicles, while BMW China Automobile Trading will recall 759,448 imported vehicles.

The recall is prompted by concerns over defective airbags, which could compromise safety. BMW will replace the front driver’s airbag at no cost for vehicles identified as having defects after inspection.

The recall specifically targets vehicles where owners have repaired the steering wheel, potentially installing faulty airbags from Takata.

In July, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that BMW would recall 394,000 vehicles in the U.S. due to a defect in airbag inflators that could cause serious or fatal injuries.