Counterfeiting has long been an issue, affecting not only the fashion industry but also automotive brands. Premium carmakers like Ferrari and Mercedes are no exception. It’s not just illegal copies of clothing and accessories, but also counterfeit car parts, which can pose a real risk for vehicle owners. These parts are often of lower quality, which can negatively impact not only the car’s performance but also its safety. Automakers face a double threat – losing profits from genuine goods and having their reputation for quality compromised.

Ferrari is known for vigorously protecting its brand and consistently fighting against counterfeiters. In 2023, they managed to destroy over 400,000 counterfeit products bearing their iconic logo. The most commonly seized items included:

– Clothing (100,351 pieces)

– Glasses (91,229 pieces)

– Watches (60,903 pieces)

– Perfumes (30,161 pieces)

– Shoes (17,438 pieces)

– Backpacks (17,231 pieces)

– Belts (13,415 pieces)

– Stickers (11,500 pieces)

– Footballs (1,092 pieces)

– Model cars (872 pieces)

– Scooters (800 pieces)

– And, finally, 3 whole cars!

Interestingly, Ferrari makes nearly as much money from merchandising as it does from car sales, making counterfeiting a huge financial blow. However, what Ferrari managed to destroy is just a drop in the ocean of counterfeit goods.

Just like Ferrari, other automakers are battling counterfeits too. In 2023, Mercedes seized and destroyed 1.6 million counterfeit parts. Mercedes focuses mainly on fake parts that directly affect road safety, such as braking systems, steering mechanisms, chassis parts, alloy wheels, and more. Counterfeiting these parts not only causes financial losses for automakers but also endangers road safety.

Source: Motor1