After VW and Ford, GM to recall record 1.46 mn cars in China

General Motors Co, America's biggest carmaker, and its partner in China SAIC Motor Corp, today announced the recall of about 1.46 million cars amid concerns about their safety.

This constitutes the biggest recall in China, which is now also the world's biggest auto market. GM sold 2.89 million vehicles in China in January-November, up 11.4 per cent from a year earlier, while Ford Motor Co - which is also recalling vehicles - sold 840,975 vehicles, up 51 per cent.

The GM cars to be recalled are Buick and Chevrolet models produced locally. They have issues with a bracket securing the oil pump, said China's quality watchdog.

The recalled vehicles include the Chevy Sail which is exported to emerging markets, and the Buick Excelle, a Shanghai-based GM official said.

Separately, the watchdog said Ford Motor Co's joint venture with Chongqing Changan Automobile Co Ltd will recall close to 81,000 of its Kuga cars over a steering part problem.

Last month, Volkswagen's Chinese unit recalled 640,309 vehicles to check they were using the right oil.

Total China vehicle sales rose 13.5 percent in January-November to 19.86 million, with car sales up 15.1 percent to 16.15 million, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM).