Toray admits tyre cord data falsification

At the end of November, Japan’s Toray Industries admitted to 149 cases of quality data falsification at a materials-making subsidiary that span eight years. According to a report by Reuters, the firm said the cheating involved tyre-strengthening cord that was sold to 13 clients by Toray Hybrid Cord.

Toray said its subsidiary became aware of the problem in July last year, and the group was informed in October. It publicly disclosed the situation after rumours appeared earlier this month in an anonymous online post.

Toray president Akihiro Nikkaku said at a news conference: “There were no legal violations or safety problems; this was between us and our customers, and so there was no need to disclose it.”

The internet post forced the company to “give a proper explanation before rumors spread,” Nikkaku said, adding that even if similar cases were found in the future the company would not be required to make them public.