Aston Martin Lagonda is recalling 1,658 Vantage cars following issues with a regular transmission software update caused incidents in China in which some cars stalled and lost power, its CEO Andy Palmer informed Reuters.
Palmer stated the decision was taken after a group of Aston Martin engineers went to China in May to investigate an issue that numerous customers there had been complaining about as early as 2014.
“Normally (recalls) begin in America. I don’t believe it is the only example, however it’s fascinating that it began with China and becomes an international recall,” Palmer informed Reuters by telephone.
“It shows the importance of China, the sophistication of the client and the diligence of the authority there.”
The luxury automaker, well-known for making the vehicle driven by secret agent James Bond, sold 3,259 units worldwide in 2016, almost 8 percent of them in China.
Aston Martin’s plan was conveyed last week to Chinese regulatory agencies that had taken up the issue after dissatisfied customers complained. Official documents would be sent by the end of the European day, Palmer informed.
The international recall will be undesirable publicity for the automaker that has said for several years it wishes to go public. It reported its first Q1 profit in a decade in last month.
Palmer did not inform the cost of the recall, but knowledgeable individuals estimated the total cost at around 300,000 pounds ($380,760).
The recall will cover 1,658 Vantage vehicles developed between June 2010 and September 2013 with the Sportshift I and Sportshift II automated manual transmission gearboxes, consisting of 113 that were sold in China. The Vantage is the sole automaker’s model with a semi-manual shift.
