Takata Shifting BMW Airbag Inflators Output from Mexico to Germany

BMW AG tells U.S. safety authorities that Japan's Takata Corp. will relocate production of airbag inflators for the carmaker to an existing factory in Freiberg, Germany, from its facility in Monclova, Mexico.

BMW says the additional capacity should be available in mid-December.

BMW and nine other carmakers are recalling some 8 million vehicles in America to replace Takata airbag inflators that can explode when triggered by a crash. The Monclova facility has been the focus of blame for the faulty devices.

The production shift to Germany is for BMW inflators only. Takata says quality and production problems at Monclova have been eliminated. It announced earlier the factory will launch two more production lines in January to boost capacity to supply replacement devices for the recalls.

Carmakers have explored the option of sourcing replacement inflators from other suppliers. But they say doing so would delay their ability to replace defective devices by at least a year.