General Motors will recall more than 2.5 million vehicles in China over airbag concerns, Chinese authorities said, dealing a blow to the US automaker in the world's largest car market.

GM and its joint venture partner Shanghai GM will start withdrawing vehicles fitted with potentially faulty airbags made by Japan's troubled Takata from October 29, China's top consumer watchdog said. 

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