The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) has turned its focus towards the lesser known yet significant issue of counterfeit automotive spare parts, posing severe risks to consumers and road safety across Europe. The awareness campaign highlights how these counterfeit parts, ranging from critical safety components like airbags and seat belts to more common items such as floor mats and emblems, can compromise vehicle safety and performance.
Counterfeit automotive spare parts not only infringe intellectual property rights but also endanger lives by compromising the safety and reliability of vehicles. Investigations have shown that the majority of these counterfeit goods originate from outside Europe, with China (94%) and Hong Kong (5%) being the primary sources. This influx of counterfeit parts includes critical components like airbags, windshields, and accelerator pedals, which are essential for vehicle safety and operation.
The perils of online shopping for car parts
The rise of online sales, including social media platforms, e-marketplaces, and various websites, has contributed to a surge in the availability of counterfeit automotive parts. Online sales now account for 60% of global seizures of dangerous products intended for the EU market. The convenience of online shopping, combined with the lower risk of detection for counterfeiters and the trend of shipping in small batches, has made the internet a hotbed for counterfeit automotive parts.
How to spot counterfeit automotive spare parts
The EUIPO offers a comprehensive list of tips for consumers to identify counterfeit spare parts, including warnings about vague or inaccurate product descriptions, undervalued shipments, and missing safety guidelines. Other red flags include the absence of official licensing, poor packaging, discrepancies in product appearance compared to genuine parts, incorrect or varying serial numbers, and misspellings on packaging or parts. These tips are crucial for consumers looking to ensure they are purchasing genuine and safe automotive components.