Concerns over the safety of Kobe Steel, Ltd.’s products spread to trains exported to the UK by Hitachi Ltd., the BBC reported on 12 October. However, Hitachi said the trains had all passed rigorous testing.
Kobe Steel admitted that product data had been falsified to show better strength and durability than was the case, causing alarm among car, train and aircraft manufacturers.
The firm has seen its shares plunge nearly 40%.