On Aug. 30, China’s largest car exporter, Chery Automobile Co., expanded a vehicle recall in Australia to include five other countries where asbestos-containing auto parts are believed to have gone. The initial recall issued on Aug. 16 included 23,000 vehicles in Australia. Now, an estimated 18,875 Tiggo and A3 models in Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, Argentina and Singapore are also subject to the recall.
The recall was initiated after customs authorities in Australia detected asbestos in engine and exhaust gaskets. According to Bloomberg Businessweek, at the time of the Australian recall, Chery indicated that workers had erroneously used a batch of auto parts not intended for Australia-bound vehicles. A spokesperson for the company who commented on the expanded recall said, “The same supplier that provided the parts for the cars made for Australia also mistakenly provided us parts containing asbestos that went into these other cars.” He did not identify the supplier by name.
Chery’s expanded recall has sparked some concern about the adequacy of Chinese automakers’ quality control procedures, especially as these companies continue to increase exports. According to Bloomberg, the official trade chamber estimates that Chinese vehicle exports could rise by as much as 50 percent this year. Last year, Chery sold a record 160,200 units overseas, up 73 percent from the year before. The company currently sells to more than 80 countries and regions around the world. Jeff Chung, an analyst at Daiwa Capital Markets Hong Kong Ltd., believes that although the recent recalls “may damp consumer confidence in China-made cars in the short to medium term . . . the impact won’t be major.”
Asbestos-containing car parts do not necessarily pose a risk to drivers, but they certainly pose a risk to anyone who comes into direct contact with the asbestos. Asbestos exposure has been linked to several types of cancer, including malignant mesothelioma. This rare but deadly form of cancer kills an estimated 3,000 people in the United States each year. Mechanics who work on vehicles with asbestos-containing parts risk inhaling the toxic mineral fibers, which poses a serious risk to their health. The automotive industry is one of many occupations with a high risk for asbestos exposure. When a worker is diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness, an asbestos attorney is there to help. Asbestos lawyers stand up to negligent companies, providing mesothelioma victims and their families with the support they need during a difficult time.
Victims of asbestos exposure may be entitled to compensation for their medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. If you or your loved one has mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, let a mesothelioma attorney fight for the compensation your family needs and deserves. To learn about your legal rights, call an experienced mesothelioma lawyer today.