In the last two years, Al-Futtaim Motors, in partnership with several law firms and the UAE government, has conducted 440 raids resulting in the confiscation and destruction of fake car parts worth around Dh35 million ($9.5 million), said a top official.

The suppliers of those parts received fines totaling Dh350,000 as the authorities are trying to clamp down on the violators, according to Jon Williams, managing director of Al-Futtaim Motors.

He was speaking at the recent Al-Futtaim Motors’ parts dealer conference attended by over 100 delegates, which took place at their Parts Distribution Centre, Dubai, UAE in the presence of Len Hunt, president Automotive Group at Al-Futtaim.

Al-Futtaim Motors has long taken a strong public stance against counterfeit practices, through continuous dialogue with the authorities and training programs for customs officials to help them discern the difference between genuine and fake car parts.

“Every authorized parts dealer, large and small, contributes to the continued success of the business and helps to ensure that only genuine Toyota parts are sold,” said Williams.

“We are constantly educating motorists in the Emirates about the risks they might put themselves and their families in, if the originality of the parts they use in their cars is compromised. We are confident that collaborating with the authorized dealers on that front will helps us keep the roads safer,” he added.

Ralf Zimmermann, general manager Aftersales shared with them the future action plan that Al-Futtaim Motors will put in place, assuring them that the company’s priority in 2014 is to combat counterfeit and parallel import of parts into the UAE. – TradeArabia News Service