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Dubai , United Arab Emirates – 21 June 2005 - Jebel Ali Ports Authority customs officials seized a container carrying 500,000 counterfeit spark plugs branded with various manufacturer logos earlier this month. 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.
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For more information:
Saada Hammad
Communications and PR Manager
General Motors Middle East
Tel: (009714) 3143350
saada.hammad@gm.com About GM
General Motors, the world's largest vehicle manufacturer, was founded in 1908 and has been the global automotive sales leader since 1931. GM today employs 342,000 people and has manufacturing operations in 32 countries. Its vehicles are sold in more than 192 countries. In 2003, GM sold more than 8.6 million cars and trucks, nearly 15 percent of the global vehicle market. GM's global headquarters is in Detroit .
GM has been operating in the Middle East since the early 1940's. GM's vehicle brands sold in the region are Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, HUMMER, Opel and Saab support ed by a unique set of customer focused services. GM parts and accessories are sold under the GM Parts and ACDelco brands. The regional office in Dubai covers the company's operations in Saudi Arabia , Kuwait , UAE, Bahrain , Qatar , Oman , Jordan , Lebanon , Syria , Yemen and Iraq .
In 2003, GM sold around 60,000 vehicles in the Middle East and the company continues to introduce pioneering programs in the region.
More information on GM and its products can be found on the company's consumer websites www.gm.com and www.gmarabia.com |
