On the back of revelations that Japanese steel manufacturer Kobe Steel was falsifying strength data on its parts, a handful of local automakers say there aren’t any safety concerns with the components.
Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Mazda, all use aluminum sourced from Kobe Steel for hoods and other exterior parts. They say they are safe, therefore avoiding costly recalls for millions of vehicles around the world.
In a statement to Reuters, Toyota admitted that the parts sourced from Kobe Steel were outside its specifications but that they still meet safety standards.
“We confirmed that the materials satisfy applicable statutory standards, and our own internal standard, for key safety and durability requirements for vehicles,” the automaker said.
Other companies, including Subaru, are still investigating the safety of Kobe-sourced components.
Last week, it emerged that staff within Kobe Steel Ltd. had falsified data about the strength and durability of various aluminum and copper parts. Toyota, Honda and Subaru are reportedly taking legal action against the supplier.
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