Volkswagen Group and its Chinese joint ventures, FAW-Volkswagen and SAIC Volkswagen, will recall 4.86 million vehicles in China due to potential issues with Takata airbags, in a blow to the carmaker in the world’s largest auto market. The recall comes after Chinese watchdogs asked the automaker as well as General Motors and Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz to recall vehicles with Takata airbags earlier this year.
Official Chinese estimates show over 20 million cars in China had airbags made by Takata, which have been linked to at least 16 deaths and 180 injuries globally. The airbags have the potential to explode with too much force and spray shrapnel. The carmaker said it had not received any reports related to the issue affecting its vehicles globally, and that a parts analysis had found Takata airbag inflators, the suspected cause of the defect were in “normal condition.”
China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) said in a statement that VW China would recall 103,573 vehicles, FAW-Volkswagen 2.35 million vehicles and SAIC Volkswagen 2.4 million vehicles.
The watchdog said the recall would run from March next year into 2019.
Volkswagen and its Chinese partners would provide free airbag replacements on the recalled cars. As of the end of June this year, 24 out of 37 affected automakers had recalled 10.59 million vehicles. A further five had made plans to recall 1.26 million vehicles. Volkswagen delivered 3.98 million vehicles in China last year, an increase of 12% on 2015, making it the biggest foreign automaker in the country.
