Local and foreign automakers recalled 425,212 cars during the January-June period for safety-related defects, up 25.7 percent from the same period a year earlier, according to the data by the Korea Transportation Safety Authority. (image: Kobiz Media / Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, July 8 (Korea Bizwire) — The number of cars subject to safety-related recalls in South Korea jumped over 25 percent in the first half of 2015 as automakers tended to voluntarily recall vehicles suspected of possible defects, data showed Wednesday.
Local and foreign automakers recalled 425,212 cars during the January-June period for safety-related defects, up 25.7 percent from the same period a year earlier, according to the data by the Korea Transportation Safety Authority.
Car models involved in the recalls also increased from 168 to 222 over the cited period.
GM Korea, the local unit of U.S. carmaker General Motors, recalled the largest number of 217,884 vehicles during the first half.
It earlier recalled 99,985 units of the Cruze, the Lacetti Premiere and the Orlando due to leaks in their brake hoses. Over 78,000 units of the Malibu and Alpheon were also recalled for defects in safety belts.
Hyundai Motor, which came in second, recalled 56,311 cars of the Avante, the Grandeur hybrid, the Genesis and the i30.
Kia Motors followed its larger affiliate Hyundai Motor as it recalled 53,721 vehicles during the first half, the data showed. Ssangyong Motor was the only carmaker among local manufacturers that didn’t recall any cars.
Of foreign brands, Mercedes-Benz ranked first by recalling 34,756 units, followed by BMW with 10,238 units, the data showed.
(Yonhap)
