Dubai authorities seize $1 million in fake auto parts

The shipment is estimated to have a retail market value of more than $1 million. The seizure came after the customs officials were tipped off by General Motors in Dubai based on information provided by their counterparts in China.

"We applaud the Jebel Ali authorities for taking this decisive action against counterfeiters," said Joe Elenz, Aftersales Director for General Motors Middle East. "The profusion of counterfeit auto parts in this region is a serious threat to manufacturers and dealers but more importantly they endanger the lives of consumers as they are produced from substandard materials that don't hold up or perform like genuine parts."

General Motors had recently increased the number of training programmes it runs for Customs, Law Enforcement and other Government departments around the region, as the company ramps up its fight against counterfeit automotive products.

"Counterfeiters are becoming increasingly savvy, pricing products just below genuine parts and utilizing sophisticated packaging and labelling to make them less noticeable, which makes it increasingly difficult for authorities to spot the fakes," added Elenz, "we are constantly working in partnership with customs departments in the region as well as our colleagues around the world to identify and track suspicious shipments and make sure they don't reach the market."

There has been a number of instances where counterfeit parts, such as brake pads, have failed at extremely inopportune moments, endangering not only the passengers of the vehicle itself, but also other motorists on the road.

The best protection from counterfeit parts is to buy from authorized distributors or retailers such as ACDelco Automotive Service and Parts, who provide a range of genuine auto parts for all makes and models of vehicles.