In the Southeast Chinese city of Guangzho, tens of thousands of counterfeit Toyota automotive components were taken off the market. Among the approximately 33,000 auto parts were filters and cables as well as numerous parts affecting the vehicles‘ safety, including brake discs and airbags. The officials also secured some 55,000 counterfeit Toyota packaging boxes which were already equipped with barcodes and serial numbers.
Information from Toyota, which the Japanese manufacturer had collected in an investigation in Australia, was decisive for the raid. The initiator was an attentive dealer, according to a letter from the company to other dealers: “It should be noted that the original investigation into the suppliers of counterfeit parts in Australia was sparked by information referred to (Toyota) by an Australian Toyota dealer.”
Last year Toyota took legal action against two dealers who sold fake automotive parts – including cables for triggering airbags and brake pads containing asbestos – before the Australian Federal Court. The original manufacturer had previously tested products it acquired anonymously. Along with help from Chinese officials, these lawsuits, which were unprecedented for Toyota in Australia, made the successful strike against the counterfeit factory in Guangzhou possible.
“What is very scary is that so many of the parts are safety related. Had the raid not taken place, those parts could have found their way to Australia, putting many innocent and unknowing Australians’ safety at risk,” commented Toyota in a statement for News Corp Australia.
