The Munich automotive giant BMW has announced a vast recall of about 1.5 million of its cars globally because of possible faults in their brakes. This follows an internal quality check that discovered a problem in the brakes’ integrated unit made by Continental AG, which is a well known German manufacturer of auto parts. This recall, which began in February, has now expanded to include more cases beyond the initial anticipated scope.
What are the models and years of manufacture affected by the BMW recall
This recall includes several BMW models, specifically those that were produced between the months of June 2022 and August 2024. Some of the models affected include select BMW X with exception of models X3 and X4 model, sedan series were also affected, specifically the 5 series and 7 series sedan, the Rolls Royce Spectre and the MINI models – mini-cooper and countryman. About 1.2m of these vehicles have already been purchased by customers across the globe and about 320,000 are in the hands of dealers or with the company.
Geographic distribution of affected vehicles
The recall cuts across multiple countries, with different numbers of affected vehicles in each region. The distribution includes approximately 370,000 vehicles in China, 270,000 in the United States, 150,000 in Germany, 70,000 in South Korea, and 60,000 in France. This global recall indicates the widespread impact of the faulty braking system and BMW’s commitment to addressing safety concerns.
The nature of the brake issue
Continental AG had supplied the defective integrated braking system. If you detect a malfunction in your brake system, BMW’s diagnostic software advises that you go for a system replacement at no cost at any BMW dealership. In case of failure, the braking system will enter a “safe mode” where it remains functional although it may require more effort on the part of drivers to stop the car.
According to BMW, there is very little chance that there can be total brake failure as the producers have put measures in place to identify any potential problems early enough. One of BMW’s representatives said, “”the company has developed a diagnostic software to detect the brake fault before it occurs,” thus reducing risks to both drivers and passengers.
Financial impact and future outlook
In its third quarter of 2024 fiscal year, BMW foresees recalling costs to run into “high three-digit million euros” thus putting much financial pressure on the company. Moreover, the halted delivery of some vehicle types that have issues will adversely affect sales projections. Aside from the immediate costs related to the current recall, BMW’s updated financial outlook reports low demand of their vehicles in China which is a contributing factor to its lowered earnings prediction for the rest of this year.
