3rd June, 2011
Authorities of Toyota Nigeria Limited (TNL) have expressed concern over the surge in the sale of Toyota spare parts in the country.
The Chairman, Toyota Nigeria Limited, Chief Michael Ade Ojo, expressed this concern recently at a seminar on fake auto parts, organised by the Guild of Motoring Correspondents (GMC) in Lagos, Nigeria.
He explained that people in some Asian countries, who are experts in imitating Toyota spare parts, produce various spare parts and send them to other countries.
On delivery, he said, this syndicate at their different assembly plants box the fake spare parts and later export them to various countries of the world.
Ade Ojo quoted one victim as saying that “today, these imitated spare parts look exactly the same as the original on the exterior with the bold inscription “Made in Japan†printed on them.
He observed that the use of fake spare parts could result in short life span of engines due to wear, frequent visits to mechanic workshops, high maintenance cost, uncomfortable driving condition, unguaranteed safety and security of commuting passengers.
“We will therefore use this medium to again caution Toyota customers and potential customers to ensure that they buy genuine spare parts from Toyota Nigeria’s authorised service shops across the country,†Ade Ojo said.
To curb the activities of fake spare parts manufacturers and dealers, the Toyota boss said his company had instituted an Anti-Counterfeit Campaign programme to be held annually with the theme: One Little Mistake, Big Trouble.
He said the campaign, among other things, would educate customers on the negative effects of using counterfeit spare parts and create awareness on the benefits of using genuine Toyota spare parts.