BMW to Recall 1.36M Cars in China Over Airbag Risks, Regulator Says

BMW plans to recall 1.36 million cars in China due to potential airbag safety issues, as reported by the country's regulator. The move is part of an effort to address concerns and ensure driver and passenger safety in affected vehicles.

HONG KONG, Aug 16 (Reuters) - Germany's BMW (BMWG.DE) and its joint venture are set to recall a total of 1.36 million cars, both locally manufactured and imported, in China due to potential safety concerns with Takata airbags, China's market regulator announced on Friday.

These recalls, which take effect immediately, apply to models produced between 2003 and 2017, according to a statement from China's State Administration for Market Regulation.

BMW Brilliance Automotive, a joint venture located in northeastern China, will recall 598,496 domestically produced vehicles, while BMW China Automobile Trading will recall 759,448 imported cars, the regulator reported.

For vehicles found to have defects during inspection, BMW will replace the driver’s front airbag at no cost to mitigate any safety risks, the statement added.

The recall specifically targets BMW cars that have undergone steering wheel modifications by their owners, which may have led to the installation of defective Takata airbags, the statement noted.

In July, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration revealed that BMW also recalled 394,000 vehicles in the United States due to faulty Takata airbag inflators, which could cause serious or even fatal injuries.

BMW China has not yet responded to a request for comment.

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Source: Reuters‍