Illustration: Chen Xia/GT

The attention generated by Aston Martin's global recall has spread beyond its own announcements to its reported sub-supplier, which has denied cooperation with the sports car marque.

Instead of admitting to loopholes in supply chain supervision and quality management, Aston Martin identified sub-supplier Shenzhen Kexiang Mould Tool Co Ltd in its recall. Aston Martin claimed it believed Shenzhen Kexiang is also a victim of fake material after the latter denied producing for Aston Martin.

Aston Martin pointed out that counterfeit material used to make throttle pedal arms come from a third-tier supplier. It then claimed that it did not mean to "blame" the supplier after the supplier denied any form of cooperation with Aston Martin.

It is a carmaker's responsibility to choose suppliers and ensure that the parts produced by them are qualified. To name the supplier does not erase the fact that the carmaker neglected its duty.

Reports of Aston Martin's recall are full of contradictory explanations. However, bad news has wings. Shenzhen Kexiang has already been described as "using fake material leading to a global recall."

If Aston Martin's version of event is true, how can a part made of fake material go through from a third-tier supplier to Aston Martin without being recognized?

If Shenzhen Kexiang's version of event is true, where did the counterfeit material come from?

Shenzhen Kexiang announced that it has never produced for Aston Martin or accepted work subcontracted from Fast Forward Tooling (FFT) - a company reportedly subcontracted by Precision Varionic International (PVI), a British company contracted with Aston Martin - except making a small number of samples in 2013 for two people who claimed to work for FFT, and the material used for the samples were provided by the two people.

Shenzhen Kexiang also denied contractual relationship with FFT or contacted by Aston Martin or FFT recently.

In addition to the different versions of event, Dongguan-based Synthetic Plastic Raw Material, which was allegedly the original source of the fake material according to Aston Martin, could not be found in a local database of registered enterprises.

Now the recall becomes a riddle: who is lying? Where are Synthetic Plastic and FFT?

How can a non-registered company supply parts for a luxury brand product?

Before any of these questions are answered, the "Made in China" manufacturing industry was again under fire, in the form of accusations of low quality and fake products.

Shenzhen Kexiang's denial has shadowed Aston Martin's explanation. If Aston Martin has no loopholes in supply chain management, it should not have allowed suppliers to subcontract work to unqualified companies.

Subcontracting is common in auto manufacturing industry, but carmakers still have the responsibility to inspect suppliers at each level to build a reliable supply chain.

Aston Martin, the carmaker who should be responsible for its supply chain and car quality, declared it carried out the recall because its "commitment to quality, reliability and customer safety is paramount."

PVI, the first-tier supplier who supply directly to Aston Martin, has kept silent on the matter.

FFT, the second-tier supplier who provided products to PVI, cannot be reached through information on its Web page.

Shenzhen Kexiang was pushed out under the spotlight, fitting in the stereotype of counterfeit products made in China.

The only thing Shenzhen Kexiang can do now is striving to contact FFT, but it failed.

Even a reporter from the People's Daily went to FFT's small office room in the UK but could not find any staff member there. 

After the recall released, Aston Martin's Purchasing Director Gary Archer said: "Aston Martin takes supply chain management very seriously and works with the best partners in the industry."

Isn't it odd to say that when the defective parts come directly from the supply chain and unqualified suppliers?

We still do not even know for certain who and where the real unqualified suppliers are.

The author is a reporter with the Global Times. bizopinion@globaltimes.com.cn