General Motors will recall more than 2.5 million vehicles in China over concerns about airbags made by troubled Japanese giant Takata, Chinese authorities said, dealing a blow to the United States automaker in the world's largest car market.

GM and its joint venture partner Shanghai GM will start withdrawing vehicles fitted with the potentially faulty airbags beginning next month and will include Chevrolet and Buick cars, China's top consumer watchdog said.

They will replace the faulty airbags for free.

Takata has recalled about 100mn airbags produced for some of the world's largest automakers, including about 70mn in the US, because of the risk that they could improperly inflate and rupture, potentially firing deadly shrapnel at the occupants.

The defect has been linked to 16 deaths and scores of injuries globally.

In China, the recalls involve 37 manufacturers and more than 20mn vehicles, of which 24 carmakers had recalled 10.59mn units by the end of June, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said.

Last week, the watchdog announced that German carmaker Volkswagen and its joint ventures will recall 4.86mn vehicles in China over the airbag issue. China is a crucial market for leading international carmakers.

GM has a long-standing presence in the country, where last year it sold 3.87mn vehicles making it the second-largest foreign manufacturer in the country, behind Volkswagen.