Auto Parts—genuine, pirate or counterfeit?
Genuine and pirate parts usually come from the same source: the parts manufacturer who supplies the motor manufacturer with the original equipment. The only difference is that some go into the vehicle manufacturer’s packaging and are sold as ‘genuine‘ parts; while the balance are packaged for independent retailers/ wholesalers and become known as ‘pirate‘ parts. These are normally much cheaper than ‘genuine‘ counterparts, although there is no difference in quality. Sometimes non-original suppliers may make and market a part which will fit the vehicle. These ‘pirate‘ parts may vary in quality, depending on the source of supply. Watch out for ‘counterfeit’ parts; inferior quality components packaged under a well known brand name and fraudulently sold.
