UK IPO campaign highlights dangers of counterfeit vehicle parts

The campaign focuses on the serious risks these goods pose, warning that ‘Fake Always Breaks’ 

• The UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) has launched a new national awareness campaign warning of the dangers of buying counterfeit vehicle parts
• The ‘Fake Always Breaks’ campaign highlights to consumers and the motor trade that counterfeits are more likely to fail and endanger road users, putting lives at risk
• Safety-critical items such as tires, wheels, airbags, and brakes are among the most commonly purchased fake items
• The campaign has been developed in partnership with the motoring industry.

The UKIPO has launched its latest national awareness campaign, warning consumers of the dangers of purchasing counterfeit vehicle parts.

OECD research estimated that vehicle counterfeit parts imported to the UK were worth almost £1 billion in 2016.  

Driving home a clear message that ‘Fake Always Breaks’, the UKIPO’s new campaign alerts drivers to the life-threatening dangers such counterfeits pose. These include items such as brakes, headlights, and airbags.

A survey conducted for the UKIPO has revealed that one in six motorists who responded said they had bought a counterfeit part in the past 12 months alone.

The campaign highlights how counterfeit vehicle parts are not subject to the same rigorous testing as legitimate products. It signposts new guidance advice for consumers and the motoring industry published by the UKIPO on how to spot and report a fake, developed in partnership with the motoring industry. 

The figures show that many of the most commonly purchased counterfeit car parts in the UK pose significant safety concerns if faulty. These include car batteries (bought by 25% of motorists who admit to buying counterfeit parts), tires/wheels (23%), and windscreen wipers (19%). 14% of motorists who have purchased fake car parts bought counterfeit airbags, while over a tenth (12%) bought fake brake pads or discs.

Although many purchases are made unknowingly, almost three-fifths (58%) of motorists responding to a survey said they did so knowing the part was counterfeit.

The survey also found that getting parts for a lower price was a significant factor among those intentionally buying a fake part, with three in ten (31%) citing cost savings as a reason.

A third (34%) of motorists who admitted to buying fake parts said they did so because they felt there was no discernible difference in appearance (34%).

Responses also suggest that such purchases made unknowingly are often uncovered at a later stage. More than two in five motorists (45%) who bought a fake that they thought was genuine found out through their garage after the part faulted, with 30% becoming aware during routine service checks.

The campaign is being supported by a range of organizations in the automotive industry and vehicle repair and servicing sectors. These include the Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation and the Independent Garage Association.

Vehicle manufacturers, including Mercedes Benz, and law enforcement bodies, such as the City of London Police’s Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU), are also involved in the campaign. 

It brings targeted social media and industry voices together to deliver an awareness message that will resonate and help consumers make informed choices. 

Miles Rees, IPO Deputy Director of Enforcement said: “This is a serious campaign with a very serious message.  We want to raise awareness that the trade in counterfeit vehicle parts not only harms legitimate traders while enriching criminals but can also lead to life-changing or life-ending consequences for road users.

“Working with our partners, we’re highlighting that such illicit goods are not subject to safety tests and are likely to be made using vastly inferior materials. This puts them at increased risk of failure, with potentially devastating results. 

“Our ‘Fake Always Breaks’ campaign seeks to arm motorists and the vehicle repair and servicing industries, with the awareness they need to help spot a fake, avoid the risks, and report sellers. It reinforces a clear message that – as with all counterfeiting and piracy – this is anything but a victimless crime.”

Stuart James, Chief Executive Officer at the Independent Garage Association (IGA) said: “We are pleased to support the IPO’s campaign that aims to raise awareness of the severe safety risks that counterfeit vehicle parts pose to all road users.”

“Garages should ensure that they avoid using customer-supplied parts and fit parts from trusted suppliers and reputable vehicle parts distributors. This practice not only enhances the safety of vehicles but also reassures customers that all components meet the required specifications.

“We actively encourage any garage that identifies counterfeit parts to report them through the various channels highlighted in the IPO advice. Together, we can combat this issue and contribute to safer roads for all.”

Detective Chief Inspector Emma Warbey, from the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU), at the City of London Police, said: “Counterfeiting safety-critical car components like tires, wheels, airbags, and brakes demonstrates the lengths that criminals will go to make money and their disregard for the safety of the people who will end up using these products.

“Our officers recently seized 500 counterfeit car airbags, which could have put motorists at risk, during an operation in east London. Fake airbags aren’t manufactured to industry standards, so there’s a real possibility that they won’t inflate during a road traffic collision or will deploy in error.

“We know that the offer of a good deal can be enticing, but it’s vital to know how to spot the signs of a counterfeit car part and to buy from a reputable seller.”

The campaign builds on previous consumer awareness activities undertaken by the UKIPO since the publication of its ambitious five-year counter-infringement strategy, as the office continues to deliver on its commitments to raise public understanding and ultimately respect, for IP rights.  

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