Home DaimlerChrysler’s Campaign Against Spurious Automobile Parts   In its nationwide campaign against spurious parts manufacturers, DaimlerChrysler, recently, in coordination with Delhi Police and local law enforcing agencies, successfully completed raids in Delhi on manufacturers of counterfeit parts of Mercedes-Benz vehicles. The initiatives against counterfeit trade are part of an ongoing global campaign of the DaimlerChrysler Brand Protection Team. DaimlerChrysler AG initiated the Indian phase of this campaign in coordination with local law enforcement organizations aiming at ensuring genuine, quality parts and accessories for the owners of Mercedes-Benz vehicles. The consequences of spurious parts are, among others, higher road accidents due to poor performance of safety-sensitive auto components, reduced fuel efficiency, increase in pollution levels and shorter life span of the vehicle. As a result, it is the unsuspecting customers and common citizens, who suffer in the ultimate analysis. Therefore, the role of the government, administration and associated agencies in checking the supply and availability of spurious parts in the market is critical and important. The counterfeit parts market in India is alarming. Each year, the national and state exchequers lose large revenues through this channel. Proliferation of spurious auto parts has also resulted in erosion of the market base for OEMs. The raids established that several unauthorised persons are manufacturing counterfeit Mercedes-Benz parts and selling them with falsified trademarks and batch-numbers. Manufacturing cost in these units is low because of use of sub-standard raw material inputs, use of low technology and tax evasion. These counterfeit parts are distributed through illegal channels in the national and international markets. Selling such equipment under the tags of OEM brands enable the spurious parts manufacturers to offer hefty commissions to all tiers in the marketing level.