US consumers sue Kobe Steel, Toyota

NEW YORK/TOKYO: United States consumers have filed a suit against Kobe Steel Ltd and Toyota Motor Corp, accusing them of violating consumer protection laws and engaging in fraud by concealing the use of substandard metal components in vehicles. The proposed class-action suit represents the first US consumer complaint filed against Kobe Steel over data fraud, and highlights the legal risks it faces even after chief executive officer Hiroya Kawasaki announced he would quit.