The defective auto parts were supplied by United Automotive Electronic Systems Co Ltd, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said in a statement on its website.

United Automotive is a joint venture of Germany's Robert Bosch [ROBG.UL] and Zhong-Lian Automotive Electronics Co Ltd.

The carmakers, which include Chongqing Changan Automobile Co Ltd, Beiqi Foton Motor Co Ltd and Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co Ltd [GEELY.UL], will recall a total of 304,935 vehicles, the watchdog said.

A China-based spokesman for United Automotive said the company was aware of the recall but had no immediate further comment.

(Reporting by Samuel Shen and Adam Jourdan; Editing by David Holmes)