business24-7.ae, Monday 31 May 2010

Sharjah To Drive Out Fake Spares

Sharjah, Eman Al Baik:

A 21-day promotional event for the auto spare parts and accessories sector, called Spare Parts Shopping Weeks, begin in Sharjah yesterday as part of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry's (SCCI) effort to support the sector and highlight the issue of counterfeit spare parts.

Apart from the promotional campaign, consumers and importers will be educated about the dangers of dealing in and using counterfeit spare parts, and the importance of periodical maintenance of cars, said Hussain Mohammed Al Mahmoudi, Director-General of SCCI.

"Al Futtaim is one of the campaign's main supporters and will highlight the issue of counterfeit spare parts," he said.

Kevin Jones, Senior General Manager, After Sales, Al Futtaim Motors, said 20 per cent of the Toyota spare parts in the market were counterfeit. Earlier, on May 18, Dubai Police seized three trucks full of counterfeit spare parts for Mercedes, Volvo and Porsche cars and foiled an attempt to smuggle them into the country.

While launching the event yesterday, Al Mahmoudi said more than Dh2 billion were invested in the sector in Sharjah through 2,000 companies.

"With such significant capital invested in the spare parts and car accessories sector, its performance is vital to the emirate's economy," he said.

The event is being organized at Industrial Street I in Sharjah city, and at agencies and service centers in other urban centers of the emirate – Al Dhaid, Khor Fakkan, Kalba and Dibba Al Hosn.