Years ago, I?d gone to purchase exhaust manifold gaskets from a shop selling auto components on Lower Circular Road. The brand required was Banco but the choice was made difficult by the fact that three identical sets of gaskets were produced. Apparently, one was the original item. The second was a copy of the original while the third was a copy of the copy! The copies were much cheaper than the original, never mind that they were practically indistinguishable from one another.

Which brings me to the Indian auto component industry?s battle against counterfeits. Yes, it?s still continuing for as of now, sales of fake or spurious auto components amount to as much as Rs 47 billion. Unfortunately, manufacturers have to spend money on schemes and advertising to ensure that the public can differentiate between the originals and the copies.

Let?s examine the reasons why the market for fake auto components is thriving. First and foremost, the fakes are cheaper, which is why many more people purchase these, thereby unknowingly sustaining the market. Then there are those who believe they?re getting just as good a product for less money.

What people do not realise is that by saving a few hundred rupees initially, they are putting themselves in line for repair bills of thousands of rupees and accidents that could even be fatal.

The huge variety of products replicated by counterfeiters includes everything from lubricants, filters, bearings, gaskets, coolant, brake shoes and pads and suspension components to drive shafts, clutches, headlights, wipers, pistons and rings as well as electrical components like motors and alternators. In fact, almost everything that goes into a car and needs replacement at some time or another is fair game.

Take gaskets for example. While the genuine article is usually made of high quality steel and silicon or nitrile rubber, the fake tends to be made of cheap steel scrap and poor-quality rubber. One can make out the difference from the poor quality of packaging of the latter. Unfortunately, about 25 per cent of the market share is held by these fakes. What happens if one uses them? A higher incidence of oil and power loss due to the increased rate of wear and tear.

Gaskets blowing is not as scary as a drive shaft or suspension failure, especially when the car is speeding. Usually the counterfeit shaft will not have been hardened correctly, which could lead to sudden failure. Sometimes, used components are recycled with no more than just a cleaning and re-greasing of the old one. More often than not, the lubricating grease will not be of the right grade leading to bearing failure. It could also lead to related components like wheel bearings, tyres, suspension arms, dampers (shock absorbers) and steering assemblies wearing out quicker than usual. In case of the suspension, there could be poor tyre-to-ground contact and inefficient braking. It could also lead to steering wobble and uneven tyre wear. Spurious drive shafts make up 65 per cent of the market.

To combat the problem, manufacturers like Lucas have drawn up schemes where for an annual fee, the company will look after the car?s electrical components, providing four free check-ups a year. With this, the owner is assured of genuine Lispart components though they have to be paid for as only the labour is free. The advantage is that Lucas cars will also benefit from a service for breakdowns related to auto-electricals and Lucas fuel injection equipment.

Mico, which has a collaboration with Germany?s Robert Bosch, is undergoing a brand transformation to Mico-Bosch and eventually Bosch and so, the packing materials and literature have all been changed. Mico also had a hologram on its cartons that it thought would be sufficient to deter counterfeiters but the latter managed to copy that too. So now, along with the brand transformation exercise, the company has also gone in for a seven-point brand recognition exercise, which it hopes will finally have counterfeiters stumped. It incorporates a two-stage hologram, with one sticker under the other. The first one is holographic and when peeled off, reveals another grey sticker beneath. This has to be viewed through a special filter to reveal the words Mico Asli, Bosch Genuine. Then the tab of the sticker is to be seen under a special fluorescent light, which will reveal another hologram. The Bangalore-based company is hoping that this long drawn-out process will see a reduction in fakes bearing the Mico name. However, both strategies from Lucas and Mico are ways of addressing the symptoms without eradicating the cause of the problem.

The biggest stumbling block, however, is the lack of awareness and the average Indian?s inherent desire to take short cuts. And the way things are going, one can?t help but ask the question: Will component manufacturers ever come out on top?

Easy listening

Koel Mullick,
actress

While driving, a lot of people usually like to hear fast-paced and energetic music. Not me though, for I absolutely love anything soft and sentimental. If you had to nose about in my car, you?d find albums by everyone from Elton John, Lionel Richie and Whitney Houston to Jagjit Singh. Elton John has always been one of my favourites and Candle in the wind and Silence are two of his songs that I can never tire of. In fact, there?s this particular album, The Elton John Special that I keep playing when in the car.

Lionel Richie is another favourite and Hello is a song I?ve been listening to for years now. I don?t think I can ever get bored of it ? it?s sheer melody. I also enjoy listening to such classics as Stevie Wonder?s I just called to say I love you and Glen Madeiros? Nothing?s gonna change my love for you. They?re old all right, but these songs could never die out.