Asbestos found in Chinese-made cars in Australia
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In this picture taken on Oct 26, 2011, workers assemble one of the many car models at Chinese carmaker's Chery Automobile plant in Wuhu, east China's Anhui province. -- PHOTO: AFP
SYDNEY (AFP) - Some 23,000 cheap Chinese-made cars were on Wednesday recalled in Australia after asbestos was found in their engines, with unions demanding to know how they came to be in the country.
Importer Ateco Automotive instructed all Chery and Great Wall dealers to stop selling affected vehicles, with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) closely watching developments.
The asbestos was found bound in gaskets in the engine and exhaust systems.
"Asbestos is a prohibited hazardous substance and these engines and exhaust systems should only be worked on by qualified personnel using appropriate safety procedures," said ACCC deputy chair Delia Rickard.
