Vehicular components are a popular target for counterfeiters, due to high demand for the automotive equipment and rising prices of parts. However, they put millions of lives in danger every year, not to mention the loss of revenue to genuine manufacturers and the damage done to their reputation. Within the industry, it is often seen that the smaller parts are counterfeited as due to their size they are much easier to replicate and ship globally.
Counterfeiters use social media platforms and other ecommerce platforms to supply illegitimate parts directly to unsuspecting customers. These fake components include those which are critical to the safety and roadworthiness of the vehicle, not just cosmetic parts. Seat belts, airbags, and brake pads are all commonly counterfeited items. Brake pads in particular are targeted by counterfeiters, with reports that some being made out of dyed grass cuttings in order to appear genuine (TPS).
The issue of counterfeit automotive parts is now so great that, in 2015, the Automotive Anti-Counterfeiting Council (A2C2) was formed. Composed of some of the biggest names in the industry (including Audi, Bently and Bugatti amongst many others), the council aims to “eliminate counterfeit automotive components” in particular for the American market.
Although existing anti-counterfeit measures are in use to protect components made by specific companies, the supply chain methods differ from manufacturer to manufacturer. In addition to this, the holograms, QR codes and other current counterfeit preventions can all be copied, cloned, or faked, which can leave customers and suppliers vulnerable.
In response to the hazards that counterfeit automotive parts bring to consumers, Quantum Base has developed the world’s first unbreakable anti-counterfeit solution which harnesses the power of quantum materials to create our Q-ID® Optical tags, which are impossible to replicate.
Quantum material is random in its nature, down to the atomic structure. By using this inherent characteristic, we have been able to create an anti-counterfeit tag for the automotive industry which is easily integrated into any existing manufacturing processes.
Once on the product, the tag can be scanned using a standard smartphone camera, offering immediate verification of authenticity in a matter of seconds. The end user is able to see all verification information on their phone in real time, allowing for strengthened trust in a manufacturer, and the reinforcing of the supply chain security.
Aside from the immediate benefits of unbreakable security, our Q-ID® technologies offer a wide range of other benefits for both the manufacturer and the end consumer.
To find out more, complete the form and a member of our team will be in touch. Alternatively you can email us directly about our anti-counterfeit solution for automotive parts here and discover our partner opportunities today.