Mercedes-Benz’s rivalry with Audi and BMW seems almost friendly compared to the company’s war against counterfeiters. According to the official statement of Mercedes-Benz, the company is working with law enforcement to destroy counterfeit parts. The company announced that authorities seized more than 1.6 million counterfeit parts in 2023.
Counterfeit goods reduce income and damage the image of famous brands. In this regard, Mercedes-Benz says: “A person walking down the street with a fake belt does not endanger the life of another person. “But someone driving down a busy highway at 120 km/h with fake brake pads can cause irreparable damage if they hit a family minivan.”
Renata Jungo BrungerA member of the board of directors of Mercedes-Benz says: “The counterfeiting industry generates huge profits, and along with it, organized criminal structures are formed. This industry compromises road safety and has no regard for the environment, fair wages and job safety, and there is no quality control. However, tracking shipments of counterfeit parts is a very difficult task; Sometimes it can even be confusing to distinguish a fake product from an original product.
Mercedes-Benz noted that authorities have conducted more than 740 inspections worldwide in 2023; This means an average of about two inspection operations per day and a 20% increase compared to 2022. Most of these counterfeit shipments include brake system parts, wheels, steering system parts and body panels, which were destroyed after being seized.
According to the German automaker, customers can take a few simple steps to avoid buying counterfeit parts. “Look carefully at what you’re buying, especially if you’re ordering parts online,” says Mercedes. “Lower prices, anomalies in product quality or sales through questionable online sources are red lines for buying parts.”
