The trade of counterfeit and cheaply produced component and spare parts is on the rise in the GCC countries consisting of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. This poses a concern not only for end users but to the businesses and manufacturers of original equipment. Companies with a GCC presence are increasingly actively collaborating with local authorities to seek out and remove fake components from the market. Mohamed Soliman, marketing and brand protection executive for after-sales at Daimler Middle East & Levant said, “[i]n cooperation with local authorities, we have found and confiscated substantial numbers of counterfeit parts in the GCC region”. Soliman also said “We have also observed that numbers are rising. This shows us that counterfeit parts are available in the market, and in noticeable quantities…Counterfeit parts are not reliable and can cause vehicles to break down, disrupting fleet business operation and resulting in financial losses,” he explained. Additionally, Jamison T Nunn, business development manager at OWS Auto Parts said, “[w]e actually commissioned market studies in preparation before we entered the Middle East. Our researchers found that as many as 30% of the parts available on the local market are counterfeits. The study was conducted predominantly in the automotive aftermarket sector….” (Constructionweekonline.com, 9 August 2014)
