BEIJING - Italian luxury car-maker Maserati will recall 222 vehicles imported to the Chinese mainland due to defective rear lamps, China's quality watchdog said Wednesday.

The recall, which began Wednesday, includes Martha GT (Gran Turismo) and Martha GT S (Gran Turismo S) and Maserati GT (Gran Cabrio) models produced between June 6, 2008, and April 29, 2010, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said in a statement.

The statement said the vehicles contain defects in their rear lamps' internal circuit boards, which may cause the cars' lights to fail.

Ferrari Maserati Cars International Trading (Shanghai) Co Ltd, the only importer of Maserati cars in China, submitted a report on the problem to the quality supervisor, said the statement.

The company will notify customers for safety tests and offer free replacement of defective rear lamps to eliminate risks, the statement said.