China orders Evoque recalls

CHINA’S quality watchdog has asked carmaker Jaguar Land Rover to recall Range Rover Evoque SUVs, following a media report which said the vehicles used faulty gearboxes.

The manufacturer, which makes the Evoque at Halewood, Merseyside, must take immediate measures to recall and repair defective vehicles and extend their warranty period, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) said.

AQSIQ said it had also asked the firm and its dealers to contact buyers to organise after-sales services like repairs, and had advised customs authorities to monitor imports of the Evoque SUVs.

At the weekend Chinese state television  criticised Land Rover for gearbox problems in some of its vehicles in a consumer show that also targeted other carmakers such as Volkswagen and Nissan Motor Co.

Jaguar Land Rover said in a statement: “Land Rover is implementing a voluntary recall in China on certain imported 2014 – 15 model year Range Rover Evoque vehicles due to performance issues with the 9-speed automatic transmission.

“Customers will be contacted by their dealer to arrange a convenient time for a 30minute software update to be applied.”

In October Land Rover forecast sales growth in China to roughly halve this year amid slower expansion of the world’s largest automotive market.