News about seizures of counterfeit automotive materials is becoming increasingly common, as this business, which causes enormous losses for most legitimate manufacturers of the parts, is very profitable for the wrongdoers. For users who buy more for cheap than for quality, the risks are tremendous, as the quality of many parts, being low, can ultimately lead to fatal accidents.
In the most recent mega-operation carried out in the United Kingdom, parts of all types were seized, from spark plugs to oil filters, totaling £110,000 (about €135,000) – in 2024, for example, the London Police discovered and eliminated 500 counterfeit airbags. According to a news article published on a British automotive sector website, a study by the OECD concluded that imports of counterfeit components to the United Kingdom in 2021 amounted to £2.2 billion (about €2.5 million). In another study, it was found that one in six people surveyed by the state agency Intellectual Property Office had purchased fake parts in the last 12 months.
“Counterfeit parts can change the lives of car users, or even kill them. This crime affects many people. The components do not pass safety tests, and are often made with poor quality materials, which increases the risks of failures with devastating consequences,” says Helen Barnham, from the intellectual property oversight body. “The most recent seizure demonstrates that criminals continue to exploit the use of legitimate storage facilities to keep counterfeit products. We are working in collaboration with law enforcement authorities across the UK to combat this issue, but drivers must remain vigilant, especially when buying parts online,” she added.
