Tesla recalls 14,000 Model S cars in China over Takata airbags

SHANGHAI: Electric-vehicle maker Tesla will recall over 14,000 Model S cars in China as part of the global automotive sector’s effort to replace potentially dangerous airbags made by Takata, China’s market regulator announced on Friday. The US giant will recall imported Model S cars made between February 2014 and December 2016, the State Administration of Market Regulation said, joining other carmakers in an effort affecting tens of millions of cars worldwide. Takata went bust in 2017 after defective airbags were blamed for a number of deaths. The Chinese regulator said the passenger-side airbags of the affected Model S cars were equipped with a Takata-made device containing an ammonium nitrate propellant. Under certain conditions the device can break, ejecting debris that can cause injury. Tesla will replace the defective devices, the company said. — AFP