Infiniti recalls 6,894 sedans to fix steering glitch
Infiniti is recalling roughly 6,894 Q50 sedans in China to fix a steering system which could cause the car's autonomous driving capabilities to malfunction.
The recall will affect cars in all markets where the Q50 is sold, including China and North America, spokesman Stefan Weinmann said. Worldwide, Infiniti expects to recall 60,000 vehicles.
China's safety watchdog, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, said the recall would affect imported Q50s and long-wheel base versions that are locally produced.
The auto industry is racing to put self-driving cars on the road, seeing autonomous driving as the next big thing, although safety, regulatory and technical hurdles remain.
The Q50, equipped with a direct adaptive steering system, is Infiniti's first model that can drive itself on highways under certain conditions. The system could malfunction "in certain rare circumstances, just after starting the vehicle" when a software glitch "can lead to a lack of steering responsiveness and change in turning radius," Weinmann said.
Infiniti will begin informing customers of the recall in June and July, he said, emphasizing the brand's commitment to safety.
Infiniti chief Roland Krueger told Reuters last month that the brand plans to roll out autonomous driving to more new models as it introduces the steering system to more cars and light trucks "one by one."
"With this (steering) function, we can offer what we call partial autonomous drive already, so the car above approximately 60 kilometers per hour on the highway can be driven hands free," he said.
Krueger said that more advanced autonomous driving features, such as those beyond highways, will require advances in infrastructure and regulation.
This isn't the Q50's first issue with the direct adaptive steering system. Infiniti recalled 2014 model year Q50s because the electric steering system could be disabled at freezing temperatures, according to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Infiniti sold 215,250 cars and light trucks worldwide last year.
China's safety watchdog, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, said the recall would affect imported Q50s and long-wheel base versions that are locally produced.
The auto industry is racing to put self-driving cars on the road, seeing autonomous driving as the next big thing, although safety, regulatory and technical hurdles remain.
The Q50, equipped with a direct adaptive steering system, is Infiniti's first model that can drive itself on highways under certain conditions. The system could malfunction "in certain rare circumstances, just after starting the vehicle" when a software glitch "can lead to a lack of steering responsiveness and change in turning radius," Weinmann said.
Infiniti will begin informing customers of the recall in June and July, he said, emphasizing the brand's commitment to safety.
Infiniti chief Roland Krueger told Reuters last month that the brand plans to roll out autonomous driving to more new models as it introduces the steering system to more cars and light trucks "one by one."
"With this (steering) function, we can offer what we call partial autonomous drive already, so the car above approximately 60 kilometers per hour on the highway can be driven hands free," he said.
Krueger said that more advanced autonomous driving features, such as those beyond highways, will require advances in infrastructure and regulation.
This isn't the Q50's first issue with the direct adaptive steering system. Infiniti recalled 2014 model year Q50s because the electric steering system could be disabled at freezing temperatures, according to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Infiniti sold 215,250 cars and light trucks worldwide last year.
