Applied DNA Sciences Inc (APDN)

[APDN 4 LIFE]

Aston Martin recalls 17,590 cars due to counterfeit material

Aston Martin expanded a recall on Wednesday to cover most of its sports cars built since late 2007 after discovering a Chinese sub-supplier was using counterfeit plastic material in a part supplied to the British luxury sports carmaker.

Owned by Kuwaiti and private equity investors, Aston Martin said it would now recall 17,590 cars, including all of its left-hand drive models built since November 2007 and all right-hand drive models built since May 2012.

That affects about 75 percent of all vehicles built in that period, a spokeswoman said. Its Vanquish model is not affected.

Aston Martin found that Shenzhen Kexiang Mould Tool Co Limited, a Chinese subcontractor that moulds the affected accelerator pedal arms, was using counterfeit DuPont plastic material, according to documents filed with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Full article here.

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My Take

If we can find a way to integrate signature DNA into the plastic molding process that will be a great breakthrough. Whoever is supplying the raw plastic material can have different marks for each grade of raw plastic material.

All Aston Martin would have had to do was check a few pedal arms for DuPont's mark to realize the Chinese company had used low grade plastics. They would have saved money, time and their brand image which is surely tarnished after this recall. Not to mention this is a huge safety concern. I couldn't imagine if my brake pedal arm cracked while I was driving.

This can be a huge market for us considering 3D printing will make it even easier to make counterfeit plastic parts.