23,000 Chinese-made cars recalled over asbestos fibres

ABOUT 23,000 Chinese-made cars will be recalled from Australian consumers after engine components were found to contain deadly asbestos fibres.

ABOUT 23,000 Chinese-made cars will be recalled from Australian consumers after engine components were found to contain deadly asbestos fibres.

Ateco Automotive - importer of Chinese brands Great Wall and Chery - will be forced to replace components inside the cars containing the substance after a ruling by the The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission today.

However, a spokesman from the Ateco said that parts would not be replaced immediately. Instead, they would be changed during a vehicle's regular service schedule unless car owners demanded otherwise.

He said a study commissioned by Ateco had found health risks to consumers were "negligible", but understood if people were concerned and wanted the components in question - which include engine and exhaust gaskets - replaced immediately.

"It is the case that some of our gaskets have been found to contain a small amount of asbestos, however we have professional advice from an occupational health and safety consultant that there is a negligible risk to drivers or passengers of the vehicles, and a very low risk for mechanics working on the cars," the spokesman said.

An ACCC spokesman confirmed the asbestos did not present any immediate risk to consumers during normal use of the vehicle, but he warned consumers not perform do-it-yourself maintenance on the components.

"All affected consumers will be contacted directly by Great Wall and Chery. In addition, they will provide training, warning stickers and safety advice to repairers," he said.

According to a statement released by the ACCC this morning, Customs and Border Protection officers first detected asbestos in imported spare parts and triggered a safety investigation.

The recall would affect almost all of the vehicles sold by the two brands, which have been among the cheapest in their respective categories since they went on sale in Australia in 2009 (Great Wall) and 2010 (Chery).

The use of asbestos in Australia was banned in 2004.