A Chinese car manufacturer, which was the subject of a recall of more than 12,000 vehicles almost a decade ago due to asbestos fears, has had its re-entry into the Australian market delayed even further.
In 2012, Chery was the subject of criticism from the Australian Manufacturer’s Union after it was revealed that asbestos had been found in the gaskets and engines of the cars. AMWU national secretary Paul Bastian said at the time that it was ‘unacceptable’ that the cars had been allowed into the country.
“What is the Government and customs going to do to ensure this doesn’t happen again?” he said. “At the very least, there needs to be prosecution of those who are found to import products or components containing asbestos in breach of our regulations.”
At the time, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission ruled that the parts containing asbestos did not have to be removed, despite the asbestos-containing parts being illegal in Australian-sold vehicles since 2003. Instead, warning labels were required to be applied to engine bays in affected vehicles, while gaskets were only able to be replaced if they, or their attached components, required replacement.
The ACCC pointed out that many vehicles built before Australia banned asbestos contain similar amounts in similar car parts, and that the vehicle industry was well-versed in managing the asbestos risks. The AMWU noted that safe handling procedures were less likely to be adhered to if workers assumed that newer vehicles did not contain asbestos.
Chery’s re-entry to the Australian market comes almost eight years after they exited, which many put down to poor sales and safety ratings, in addition to the asbestos recall. The business was expected to launch in late 2022, but