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September 15, 2017

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Home » Business » Auto

VW and JVs to call back 4.86m vehicles

VOLKSWAGEN AG 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, a blow to the carmaker in the world’s largest auto market.

The recall comes after Chinese watchdogs asked the German automaker as well as General Motors Co and Daimler AG’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 Corp, 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 defect led to the biggest recall in automotive history and eventual bankruptcy of the Japanese maker.

Volkswagen said in a statement yesterday that after discussions, Chinese authorities had concluded the fault could occur in rare cases when the airbag was deployed, “which may create a potential safety risk.”

“Acting upon advice from the Chinese safety authority, Volkswagen Group China therefore made this recall decision.”

The carmaker said that 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 said in a statement that Volkswagen 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 said the carmaker and its Chinese partners would provide free airbag replacements on the recalled cars.

Volkswagen, which also owns the high-end Audi brand, is not the only car manufacturer hit by recalls in China related to Takata airbags.

As of the end of June, 24 out of 37 affected automakers had recalled 10.59 million vehicles. A further five had made plans to recall 1.26 million vehicles.




 

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