Dubai blitz nets 50,000 fakes, unsafe car parts

By Eudore R. Chand

Destroyed fake parts of Toyota

DUBAI 6 November 2019: Al Futtaim Toyota, in partnership with UAE government authorities, has completed five raids on fake car part dealers in the third quarter of this year with a focus on counterfeit operations in Dubai and Sharjah, bringing the total value of counterfeit products seized or destroyed to over Dh26 million this year.

The majority of the nearly 50,000 items confiscated were serviceable goods such as oil filters, of which over 34,000 were seized worth almost Dh760,000, as well as nearly 6,000 brake pads with a value of over Sh1.5 million. Fake brake pads made out of dried grass or asbestos and other cheap counterfeit car parts not only put the driver at risk but also endanger the lives of other road users. In addition, fake oil filters can degenerate much faster due to the poor-quality materials used and lead to major engine failure or seizure thereby resulting in expensive repairs.

Along with conducting raids and helping rid the roads of unsafe vehicles, Al Futtaim-Toyota is unwavering in its fight against counterfeiters by also providing training to almost 100 Government officials in the UAE.

“Our role in ensuring customers’ safety is paramount and it is our firm commitment to protect consumers from the threat of dangerous counterfeit parts,” said Saud Abbasi, Managing Director of Al Futtaim-Toyota.

Counterfeit parts affect vehicle longevity, reliability, value and customers’ own well-being, in addition to exposing other road users to greater dangers due to the possibility of high-risk failures.

Genuine Toyota parts are available at Al- Futtaim Toyota and its reputable authorized dealers. All parts are built to meet the highest quality standards, adding to Toyota’s quality, reliability and durability.