An emerging scandal concerning a major Japanese steel manufacturer is set to have a major impact on automakers. Over the weekend, it was reported that Kobe Steel acknowledged it had fabricated data about the quality of the aluminium and copper it had provided to clients, which included a number of automakers.
It was revealed that inspection certificates of flat-rolled and extruded aluminium as well as copper products – shipped between September last year to August this year – were altered or falsified to match requirements specified by customers, The Nikkei reported. Apparently, dozens of employees were involved in the misconduct.
The company, which supplies materials to a wide variety of industries, including those involved in the manufacture of aircraft, bullet train and cars, did not divulge who its clients were, but said that the issue – which might trace as far back as a decade ago – could involve products sent to as many as 200 companies.
On the automotive front, Japanese automakers said that they were using material from Kobe Steel in their vehicle production and were currently investigating the issue.
Toyota said that Kobe Steel materials have been used in hoods, rear doors and peripheral areas in its vehicles, but added that the issue was limited to its plants in Japan and that factories in other countries weren’t affected. Likewise, Honda said the materials in question had been used in the construction of doors and hoods for its cars.
Subaru said it had vehicles that used the contentious aluminium and was checking whether that use affects safety. This was echoed by Nissan, which said it was looking into the material’s potential impact on vehicle functionality.
Mazda said it also used aluminium produced by Kobe Steel and was in the process of checking which vehicles it was used in, while Mitsubishi stated it was in the midst of confirming affected models.
According to the publication, the country’s transport ministry has called on the carmakers to identify models using any of the affected material and conduct safety checks on these to see if any recalls are necessary.
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.
john
on 
Nero
on 
Get it right at least
on 
Operation Manager
on 
Jaju
on 
Mr sir
on 
evolva
on 
Chris
on 
topkek
on 
kereta_lembu
on 
Harvey
on 
anon
on 
William Leong
on 
samelordupe
on 
st3wp1d
on 
Driver's Choice
on 
Tidur Oh Tidur
on 
Just pass by
on 
armandd
on 
kzm (Member)
on 
DK
on 
Douglas
on 
Yeah
on 
basherlogic
on 
Proton oh Proton
on 
Jonn Dol
on 
john
on 
Md Jamal
on 
Zacko
on 
Jimmy
on 
david
on 
Csv
on 
Hero the lee
on 
Ashwad hassan bin rabish
on 
David Kam
on 
Justin
on 
st3wp1d
on 
MusangKing
on 
Dug Ong
on 
kami
on 
jibby v2.60
on 
rchoo
on 
Saiful Hamdan
on 
Pp
on 
12yrsold
on 
B. Unggul
on 
Leafable
on 
awan nano
on 
Lucky Me
on 
BLT_Club
on 
michelin
on 
Andrekua
on 
boooooo
on 
Sardine Kopi-O
on 
f3
on 
The Last Inspector
on 
AI-generated Summary ✨
Comments expressed concern over the Kobe Steel scandal, questioning the safety and quality of affected Japanese automakers like Toyota, Nissan, Honda, and Mazda, especially regarding the use of Kobe Steel in their parts. Some comments dismissed the severity, citing the high safety standards and crash ratings, while others highlighted systemic issues like falsified inspections and cost-cutting practices, comparing it to prior industry scandals like Takata airbags and Boeing's safety lapses. Several commenters pointed out that not all vehicles or parts involve Kobe Steel, suggesting some reassurance. There was also skepticism about the transparency and responsibility of Japanese companies, with some feeling the scandal damages the reputation of Japanese industry overall. A few comments brought up possible impacts on Malaysian cars and the importance of local suppliers.