Twenty-two foreign and domestic carmakers recalled more than 283,500 flawed vehicles in China this year, said an official with the state quality watchdog on Monday.

 

"Carmakers have been recalling more vehicles since the Chinese government released regulations on faulty auto recall in 2004, said Sun Bo, an official with the State Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (SAQSIQ).

 

Auto recalls were rare in China before the system was set up. Some companies would refuse to recall faulty vehicles citing the absence of relevant regulations as an excuse.

 

But now, vehicle producers must recall defective vehicles or risk being put on a public blacklist and being fined.

 

In 2004 and 2005, about 380,000 flawed units were recalled nationwide.

 

Sun said the increasing cases of defective vehicle recalls showed that carmakers care about domestic consumers, as China grows into the world's second largest and fastest-growing auto market.

 

China will issue stricter rules and laws next year to improve the faulty auto recall system and better protect consumers' interests, he said.

 

(Xinhua News Agency December 19, 2006)