Maserati has decided to recall nearly 21,000 cars in China over a design defect that could increase the risk of a collision.
The affected vehicles include the Quattroporte and Ghibli models made between March 2013 and December 2015, state-owned media said.
China’s quality watchdog claims a design problem with the floor mat and accelerator could lead to the pedal getting stuck in the working position.
The Italian luxury car maker will replace the pedals.
Luxury car brands have seen sales suffer in China in recent years due to the slowing economy and a government crackdown on corruption and overt displays of wealth.
However, companies like Maserati are now looking to online retailing as a new source of growth. China is the world’s biggest e-commerce market with nearly 700 million internet users.
Maserati launched its flagship store on Alibaba’s online shopping site Tmall last week, listing 100 of its new SUV Levantes for advance sale. All the cars reportedly sold out in 18 seconds.
Levantes is due to officially launch in China in July.
The US has won a World Trade Organization ruling against China in a dispute over tariffs on American luxury cars.
A WTO panel found no basis for duties that China imposed between 2011 and 2013.
The US described it as a “significant victory”.
The US has won a World Trade Organization ruling against China in a dispute over tariffs on American luxury cars
China began tariffs on saloons and off-road vehicles with an engine capacity of 2.5 litres or more in retaliation for US trade policies.
China argued when it introduced the charges that US carmakers, such as GM and Chrysler, had received government subsidies and flooded the Chinese market with the cars, which harmed China’s own car industry.
The US said China had imposed the duties without following the rules and filed the case with the WTO.
The rate was as high as 21.5%.
US Trade Representative Michael Froman said $5 billion of exports in 2013 had been taxed.
“The message is clear. China must follow the rules, just like other WTO members,” he said.
US vehicle exports to China were worth $8.6 billion in 2013, 48% more than a year earlier. It is the largest foreign market for US automakers after Canada.
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