Toyota is determined to fight the importation and sale of counterfeit Toyota parts worldwide.
Toyota Australia is working with its global Toyota affiliates as well as the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection to orchestrate raids around the world, resulting in the seizure of thousands of counterfeit parts.
For example, a massive haul of counterfeit Toyota car parts, a significant proportion of which was destined for sale in Australia, was uncovered in Guangzhou City in southeast China in a raid conducted by Chinese
police acting on information provided by Toyota Australia.
Around 37,000 fake parts with an estimated retail value of over $1 million were seized, including everything from filters, cables and seals to safety-critical items such as airbags, brake master cylinders and brake pads.
In recent years, acting on information supplied by Toyota Australia, the Australian Border Force has seized hundreds of counterfeit Toyota parts at customs entry points before they could enter the local supply chain.
At the same time, Toyota Australia consistently monitors the Australian retail parts market taking firm action (including legal proceedings) against businesses and individuals found to be offering counterfeit Toyota parts for sale.
For example, brake pads falsely advertised by a local supplier as Toyota Genuine products were found to contain asbestos, posing a major health risk. Asbestos has been banned from use in Australia since 2003.
As a result of Toyota Australia’s investigation, the parts retailer concerned initiated a safety recall of the counterfeit brake pads. It contacted the affected customers, provided a full refund and urged them to immediately return or dispose of the brake pads.
Depsite these efforts, the surest way to guarantee that you are buying Toyota
Genuine Parts is by sourcing them through one of Toyota’s national network of over 200 authorised dealers.
For more information visit toyota.com.au/parts.
