Millions of pieces are seized by customs authorities at major ports
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In the United Arab Emirates, more than 94,000 counterfeit items were seized in the first half of 2022, with a combined value of 2.39 million dirhams. – KT file
The global trade in counterfeit auto parts has become a multi-billion dollar industry in recent years. Millions of parts are seized by customs authorities at major ports and distribution centers every year, but many more end up in garages and workshops around the world.
In the United Arab Emirates, more than 94,000 counterfeit items were seized in the first half of 2022, with a combined value of 2.39 million dirhams.
“At best, counterfeit parts can cause increased wear and tear on your vehicle, reducing its reliability and long-term residual value. At worst, they can cause the dangerous failure of essential components such as brakes, while driving,” says Ganesh Jawahar – MD Global Aftersales Automotive – Al-Futtaim Automotive.
Most of the parts involved in the seizures included air filters, oil filters, engine oil, brake pads and other consumables that are regularly replaced in vehicles and therefore enjoy high sales volumes.
A lost look at these spare parts can show us that they can affect the performance of the vehicle.
As part of the seizure operations, in addition to counterfeit motor oil, thousands of empty Toyota and Lexus oil drums were seized. These are a popular item for counterfeiters as they are refilled with a lower quality motor oil and then sold as an original OEM product. “Low-quality motor oils do not provide optimal lubrication for your engine and degrade faster, resulting in increased engine wear,” Jawahar said.
Inferior oil filters are less effective at removing contaminants from engine oil, which in turn increases engine wear, thereby increasing long-term costs. Also, counterfeit oil filters often use low-quality rubber in the gasket, which hardens with heat over time, causing oil leaks. A serious oil leak can be catastrophic for an engine if the driver does not notice it in time.
Ganesh Jawahar – MD Global Aftersales Automotive – Al-Futtaim Automotive. – Photograph supplied
An engine requires a constant flow of air to mix with the fuel in the cylinders for combustion. The air filter filters dust and particles to prevent them from entering the engine. “Counterfeit air filters use poor quality filtration membranes that clog easily, quickly reducing the flow of clean air to the engine, which then suffers from reduced power and fuel efficiency,” said Jawahar.
The implications of fake brakes are much more serious. “Longer stopping distance due to reduced friction, increased brake fade in certain driving conditions such as extended downhill routes, and faster wear leading to unexpected brake failure are potential problems caused by counterfeit brake parts,” Jawahar said.
While many independent garages are reliable, some bad actors increase their margins by using counterfeit parts while continuing to charge OEM prices for them. “The only way to be 100 percent sure is to always take your car to your brand’s dealer service center. Manufacturer’s service centers will always use high-quality original parts designed specifically for your vehicle,” Jawahar said.
