The federal government launches a brand new marketing campaign at the moment to warn motorists towards shopping for pretend elements for his or her automobiles, as a brand new survey reveals that one in six respondents (15%) stated they’ve bought a counterfeit half up to now 12 months alone.
OECD analysis has estimated that car counterfeit elements imported to the UK had been price virtually £1billion in a single yr.
Counterfeit automobile elements are these that are marketed and bought to customers and companies acknowledged as being real branded car elements. They’re typically laborious to identify, carry the identical branding and look similar to real elements, however are prone to be made utilizing inferior supplies and aren’t safety-tested.
Driving dwelling a transparent message that ‘Pretend All the time Breaks’, the brand new marketing campaign – spearheaded by the Mental Property Workplace (IPO) – alerts drivers to the life-threatening risks posed by counterfeit objects corresponding to brakes, headlights and airbags. The marketing campaign additionally shares the next recommendation for customers and the motoring business on the right way to spot a pretend:
- Be cautious of worth – if it seems to be too good to be true, it in all probability is.
- Analysis the vendor – if you’re unfamiliar with the corporate promoting the product, take a look at earlier buyer opinions and conduct some background analysis.
- Test the spec – pretend elements are sometimes ‘one measurement suits all’ and never made on your car. This might be harmful and trigger irreversible injury.
- Search for proof – real elements will include a certificates of Authentic Tools. If there isn’t one, it’s prone to be a pretend.
- Suspect it’s pretend? Report it – it’s unlawful to promote counterfeits, and sellers ought to be reported to Crimestoppers.
Lots of the mostly bought pretend automobile elements within the UK pose important security issues if defective, together with automobile batteries (purchased by 25% of motorists who admit to purchasing counterfeit elements), tyres/wheels (23%) and windscreen wipers (19%). Worryingly, 14% of motorists who’ve bought pretend automobile elements purchased counterfeit airbags, whereas over a tenth (12%) purchased pretend brake pads or discs.
Though many purchases are being made unknowingly, virtually three fifths (58%) of motorists who’ve purchased low-cost elements stated they did so with the data that the half was counterfeit.
Getting elements for a cheaper price was a major issue amongst these deliberately shopping for a pretend half, with three in ten (31%) citing value financial savings as a motive. In the meantime, a 3rd (34%) of motorists who admitted to purchasing pretend elements stated they did so as a result of they felt there was no discernible distinction in look (34%).
Purchases made unknowingly are sometimes uncovered at a later stage. Greater than two in 5 motorists (45%) who purchased a pretend that they thought was real, discovered via their storage after the half faulted, with 30% changing into conscious throughout routine service checks.
Miles Rees, IPO Deputy Director of Enforcement on the Mental Property Workplace, feedback: “Pretend automobile elements are unlawful to promote and are very harmful for motorists and different highway customers. Whereas they could look the identical, they’re typically produced from inferior supplies and aren’t security examined. This will increase the danger of failure and might result in life-changing or life-ending penalties – a threat not price taking.
“As we enter the darker, colder, icier months, driving can develop into extra hazardous. For this reason it’s now extra necessary than ever to focus on the risks of fakes to motorists and assist make each journey as secure as it may be. Our ‘Pretend All the time Breaks’ marketing campaign goals to arm drivers with the data they should spot a pretend, keep away from the dangers and report sellers.”
Help from business will assist drive motion
The IPO’s ‘Pretend All the time Breaks’ marketing campaign is supported by a variety of organisations from the automotive business, together with these within the car restore and servicing sector – such because the Unbiased Automotive Aftermarket Federation and the Unbiased Storage Affiliation who will probably be serving to to boost consciousness amongst their members and prospects. Car producers together with Mercedes Benz and legislation enforcement our bodies such because the Metropolis of London Police’s Mental Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) are additionally concerned within the drive to maintain highway customers secure.
Stuart James, Chief Government Officer on the Unbiased Storage Affiliation (IGA): “We’re happy to assist the IPO’s marketing campaign that goals to boost consciousness of the extreme security dangers that counterfeit car elements pose to all highway customers.”
“Garages ought to make sure that they keep away from utilizing buyer equipped elements and match elements from trusted suppliers and respected car elements distributors. This observe not solely enhances the protection of automobiles but additionally reassures prospects that every one elements meet the required specs.”
“We actively encourage any storage that identifies counterfeit elements to report them via the assorted channels highlighted within the IPO recommendation. Collectively, we are able to fight this subject and contribute to safer roads for all.”
T/ Detective Chief Inspector Emma Warbey, from the Police Mental Property Crime Unit (PIPCU), at Metropolis of London Police, stated: “Counterfeiting safety-critical automobile elements like tyres, wheels, airbags and brakes demonstrates the lengths that criminals will go to become profitable and their disregard for the protection of the individuals who will find yourself utilizing these merchandise.
“Our officers just lately seized 500 counterfeit automobile airbags, which may have put motorists in danger, throughout an operation in east London. Pretend airbags aren’t manufactured to business requirements, so there’s an actual chance that they gained’t inflate throughout a highway site visitors collision, or will deploy in error.
“We all know that the supply of a very good deal might be engaging, however it’s important to know the right way to spot the indicators of a counterfeit automobile half and to purchase from a good vendor.”
