Aston Martin recalls 17,000 vehicles for counterfeit component
配件故障 阿斯顿马丁召回17,000辆汽车

Luxury carmaker, Aston Martin, has found itself explaining a possible "defective part" to safety regulators in the U.S. and China, following the recall of 17,000 of its vehicles. In the process, the UK-based automaker blamed a Chinese supplier for the problem.

Luxury and exclusivity are integral to the image of Aston Martin-the vehicle of choice for James Bond.

So, when an Aston Martin is found to have a cheap counterfeit component, it’s not just a safety issue, it’s an image issue that can damage the brand.

Allyson Stewart-Allen, Int'l Marketing Partners, said, "It is a branding disaster, because if you have vetted your components and you’re a luxury brand like Aston Martin, you should know every aspect of every part that goes into your machine."

Aston Martin pinned the blame for the problem - an accelerator pedal’s plastic molding - on Chinese supplier Shenzhen Kexiang Mould Tool Co.

Trouble is, the boss at the little factory in southern China, Zhang Zhiang, said he wasn’t even aware that Aston Martin was one of his customers.

In an email to China’s Global Times, Aston Martin said it had no direct relationship with Shenzhen Kexiang and didn’t blame the company for, quote: Aston Martin’s accusation reportedly angered consumers in China.

China’s official Xinhua news agency accused Aston Martin of being unprofessional by failing to monitor its supply chain.

Perhaps not surprisingly, Aston Martin here in the UK is keeping its head down.