LOCAL importers of some Chinese cars were on Thursday scrambling to establish whether illegal asbestos had been used in the manufacture of their vehicles after the alarm was raised in Australia.

It is illegal to import asbestos into South Africa.

Asbestos is a dangerous carcinogen, and had been found in small amounts in certain components in Chery and Great Wall Motors vehicles, it was reported yesterday. Australian authorities warned owners not to work on gaskets or exhausts in their garages.

Brett Soso, MD of Chery SA, which is a part of Imperial Holdings, said the company "only heard about it at the start of the week" and was awaiting the results of an investigation they had "activated at the start of the week". "We’re not aware of the full implications yet."

Mr Soso said the amounts found in Australia were "very, very small", but that the company would investigate as quickly as possible.