"Fake Always Breaks" - Government launches new campaign to tackle counterfeit car parts

The UK Government has launched a new campaign to crack down on dangerous counterfeit car parts. The UK IPO issued new consumer guidance today entitled “Fake Always Breaks” in an effort to educate consumers on the risks and offering guidance on how to spot fake car parts in the marketplace. 

A UK IPO survey found that 1 in 6 respondents admitted to purchasing a counterfeit car part in the last 12 months, but 45% of these thought that the product was genuine and only discovered it was fake after a fault had occurred. 31% of those who knowingly bought fake car parts cited cost savings as the reason. 

Whilst the low price might seem attractive, the safety risks associated with counterfeit car parts are significant and despite the best efforts of vehicle brands and law enforcement authorities to remove these from circulation, fake parts can still slip through the net so consumers should be vigilant.