The online counterfeit car part market is flourishing, according to brand protection firm Corsearch, and this places Australian road users at higher risk of harm from low quality fake parts that may be fitted to their vehicles without their knowledge.
Corsearch monitors the volume of counterfeit vehicle part listings on e-commerce platforms, assisting brands to enforce take down requests, and reports that listings of counterfeit car parts have increased substantially over 2020.
COVID-19 restrictions have seen an uptick in private vehicle use. At the same time, the pandemic has seen an increase in on-line shopping. These two factors have combined to create a significant opportunity for counterfeit car part distributors, who commonly use on-line sites to sell their products.
Corsearch President of Brand Protection, Daniel Bennett, said counterfeit car part listings had surged.
“Unfortunately, we have seen a rise in both counterfeit car parts, as well as fake branded accessories for some of our automotive clients.” said Bennett.
“This increase in vehicle use, combined with the now normalised buyer behaviour of turning to online shopping channels, grants counterfeit sellers a bigger opportunity to attempt to sell unauthorized car parts in an in-demand market.
Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) Chief Executive Tony Weber said it wasn’t just vehicle owners that needed to be aware of the increasingly virulent counterfeit market.
“This is also a warning for technicians and repairers. Counterfeits are designed to deceive. We have seen technicians unwittingly fit counterfeit parts to customer cars before. Do not take risks with the supply of vehicle parts.” said Weber.
Counterfeit spark plugs capable of causing massive engine damage were the most recent part added to the list of fakes encountered by FCAI initiative Genuine is Best. Other dangerous parts include counterfeit oil filters that do not filter oil, wheels that shatter in low speed pothole impacts, brake components containing asbestos and in one case, brake pads made of compressed grass clippings.