Auto industry acts globally — except on recalls, from The Boston Globe.
When it comes to making and selling cars, the auto industry thinks and acts globally: There is near-seamless coordination between parts suppliers, factories and dealerships.
But when an unsafe car needs to be recalled, that global coordination breaks down — in part because governments do not demand it. The consequences are sometimes deadly.
There are no international standards for determining what’s unsafe and should be recalled, or how car owners should be notified. Some countries have strict safety regulations and a clear process that automakers must follow when they learn about a defect. But many do not.
“We’ve witnessed recalls occurring in one part of the world while the same defects go unremedied in others, sometimes for years,” said Sean Kane, a safety advocate and president of Safety Research and Strategies. “That should not happen”.