US firms examining impact of Kobe Steel’s data fraud

October 13, 2017

NEW YORK/ CHICAGO- General Motors Co. has started to examine whether Kobe Steel Ltd.'s aluminum and copper quality data fabrication would have any impact on its vehicles.The US auto giant said in a statement that it is "aware of the reports of material deviation in Kobe Steel copper and aluminum products."

"We are investigating any potential impact and do not have any additional comments at this time," it said.

Industry peer Ford Motor Co. said in a statement that aluminum from the major Japanese steelmaker is used for the hood of its Mondeo car produced in China.

While noting that an investigation is under way, Ford said it has yet to find whether the aluminum is among the metal products with fabricated quality data.

Still, the company said that even if data manipulation is confirmed, it is "not a safety issue as hoods are not structural elements in vehicles."

Kobe Steel has recently said that it had supplied aluminum and copper products with fabricated quality inspection data to about 200 client companies. Japanese automakers, including Toyota Motor Corp. and Nissan Motor Co. were found to have used such metals from Kobe Steel.

The steelmaker has been active about expanding its operations in the United States. In May last year, the company announced a plan to build in Kentucky a plant for aluminum products for automobiles.

US aerospace giant Boeing Co. has also launched an investigation on any possible impact of the Kobe Steel irregularities on its products. In a statement Thursday, Boeing said that it has so far found no problem that affects the safety of its products. Jiji Press