Mercedes-Benz, JVs to recall over 350,000 cars in China

BEIJING — Mercedes-Benz (China) and two Chinese joint ventures will recall 351,218 vehicles due to defective airbags, the quality supervisor said.

The car makers have filed a plan to recall domestically built and imported vehicles produced from 2006 through 2012, with models including the SLK-Class and GLK-Class, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said on its website.

The vehicles to be recalled are equipped with airbag inflators made by Japanese manufacturer Takata that could explode and spray potentially fatal shrapnel inside the car, the administration said.

The recall, which will begin on Oct 15, follows similar recalls announced by other car makers including General Motors and Honda.

The companies will replace the airbags free of charge.