Japans Kobe   Steel has increased the number of firms it says have been affected by its   data fabrication scandal from 200 to 500.  It also said it had found "inappropriate actions" relating to nine   more products, including falsifying data.  Earlier this week,   Kobe admitted falsifying quality data on some of its products for up to a   decade.
  The news has   wiped out about $1.8bn off Kobe Steels market value this week.
  More than 30   non-Japanese customers, including Daimler and Airbus, have been affected by   the firms data fabrication, Japans Nikkei newspaper reported on Friday.  Airbus said it did not buy products directly from Kobe Steel, but that it was   investigating its supply chain. 
 So far we have   not identified any suppliers that procure materials from Kobe Steel for parts   fitted on our aircraft," a spokesman said.  Widening scandal  An internal   investigation at Kobe Steel found 70 cases of data tampering at its Kobelco   Research unit.
  Manufacturer   such as General Motors, Boeing and Toyota have been investigating whether   they have used any of the sub-standard materials from Japans third-largest   steel maker.
  Boeing, has used   Kobe Steel products that include those falsely certified by the Japanese   company, Reuters reported. 
 worlds biggest   maker of passenger jets does not consider this a safety issue, but the   revelation may raise compensation costs for the Japanese company, the news   agency said.  Central Japan   Railway has said some Kobe Steel parts for its bullet trains did not meet   Japanese industrial standards, but there were no safety issues.
  Hitachi said its   new trains in Britain used Kobe Steel, but had all passed rigorous tests.
  Mazda and Honda   have both said they have used Kobe aluminium in some car bonnets.
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