The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is monitoring a recall of approximately 23,000 Great Wall and Chery motor vehicles with engine and exhaust gaskets containing asbestos, a cancer-causing silicate minerals. Both manufacturers have been directed to stop selling the affected vehicles, and consumers are advised not to perform do-it-yourself maintenance that might disturb these gaskets.

"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. The ACCC will monitor the recall and Workplace Health and Safety Authorities will monitor the workplace safety issues," Said Ms Delia Richard, ACCC deputy chair.

A Chery spokesman commented that the automaker made a mistake by building the cars with a batch of parts that were not intended for use in export cars.

However, an Australian public affairs official indicated that the recall affects a large portion of the vehicles imported by the two manufacturers. I shall leave it to the readers to decide if it is an honest mistake. Models affected by the recall include the Chery J11 and J3 (below) as well as the Great Wall SA220, V240, X240, V200 and X200 (above).

Australia was the testing ground for Chinese carmakers looking to enter larger markets and the recall has dealt a blow to those ambitions. The incident also raises concerns about the quality and safety of products made in China, which has struggled with repeated health scares that include excessive lead found in toys and melamine-tainted milk.