General Motors Middle East has held an event to highlight the problem of counterfeit vehicle parts that exists within the region.
The one-day seminar, which was held in Doha, was attended by Qatari customs and consumer protection officials. The event explored the dangers associated with inauthentic vehicle components, and drew attention to the possible consequences for consumers.
An estimated $12bn of global counterfeiting is related to the automotive industry, according to the US Federal Trade Commission. In the Middle East alone, this figure is thought to be around $1bn.
The World Trade Organization (WTO) estimates that counterfeiting is responsible for a total of 750,000 job losses globally. 250,000 of these losses are thought to take place within the automotive industry.
Scott Emmer, General Motors’ global security manager for global brand protection, said: “Counterfeiting is a global crime with negative impacts on the automotive industry, and serious consequences for consumers in terms of cost, and more importantly, safety.
“Counterfeit parts may be cheaper to buy, but they could cost you a lot more in the long run and impact the safety of you and your family,” he added. “The result could be fatal.”
The organisers of the seminar warned those in attendance that imitation parts do not have the same quality, reliability and dependability as genuine parts, making it necessary to replace them more frequently. Because counterfeit parts are not built to manufacturers’ specifications, they can also cause other mechanical problems and system breakdowns.
Unfortunately, many counterfeit parts are manufactured, packaged and sold in a way that is misleading to consumers. Trademarks, for example, are often duplicated – or changed in a way that might not be immediately apparent to prospective buyers.
Speakers at the GM seminar offered consumers advice on how to protect themselves against buying imitation components. Common warning signs include substandard packaging and prices that appear too good to be true.
