Japan's Toyota Motor said Thursday that aluminum plate purchased from Kobe Steel satisfied the automaker's metal strength and durability standard.
Toyota started a review of aluminum and components supplied by Kobe Steel, after the steelmaker reported to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in September that data of its components were inaccurate.
Toyota said strength and durability of aluminum plates, used for hoods, rear hatches and other parts, satisfied safety and durability requirements for vehicles. The automaker used data of products for the last three years as the basis of its review.
The automaker did not say whether weldability and formability properties, that do not directly impact passenger safety, were tested.
Tests and reviews were conducted at Toyota, company spokeswoman Monika Saito said. The spokeswoman declined to elaborate further.
The automaker is continuing to review quality of aluminum extrusions, copper, iron powder, and steel wire products made by Kobe Steel, and supplied by the steelmaker and other companies.
Kobe Steel's aluminum plates comprise of aluminum-magnesium-copper alloys of 5000 series, and aluminum-magnesium-silicon alloys of 6000 series, according to Kobe Steel product catalog.
The main products supplied to automakers have been KS6K21, which is similar to AA6016 standard sheets in Europe and the US, KS6C32 similar to AA6111, and KS5J30 similar to AA5182.
