Crackdown on counterfeits include fake auto parts

MANILA, Philippines — Automotive firms are stepping up efforts against counterfeit vehicle parts and teamed up with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines to rev up the removal of dubious listings in top e-commerce platforms. 

Through the teamup with IPOPHL, the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines formally joined the agency’s crackdown on counterfeit products sold online. 

The collaboration enables Campi members to flag counterfeit auto parts and have posts taken down from IPOPHL’s partner platforms: Shopee, Lazada and TikTok Shop. 

Any action beyond the deletion of online listings, however, will be up to individual car dealers, said IPOPHL Acting Director General Nathaniel Arevalo. 

Still, Averalo said the partnership with Campi is crucial as it would not only protect legitimate sales but also promote consumer safety. 

“Beyond violating the intellectual property or IP rights of legitimate manufacturers, the use of counterfeit spare parts directly compromises public safety,” he said. “

Whether in vehicles, electrical systems, or machinery, a single defective part can endanger not just property but people’s lives,” Arevalo added.

While e-commerce has made it easier for car owners to access vehicle components, Campi president Rommel Gutierrez said that safety must remain a top priority.

READ: Countering counterfeits

“With increased accessibility and convenience, e-commerce platforms have become popular for the purchase of automotive parts, including, or most especially, safety parts,” Gutierrez said. 

“This presents a big challenge for original equipment manufacturers and brand owners as counterfeit parts proliferate on online platforms,” he added. 

Lubricants and motorcycle parts

IPOPHL data show that two of the 44 counterfeit-related reports submitted to the agency this year involved vehicle products, such as fake oils and motorcycle parts. 

READ: IPOPHL onboards Yamaha Motors in e-commerce pact to combat piracy

In 2024, IPOPHL recorded four reports concerning counterfeit car parts such as oils, coolants and components for the Japanese car brand Honda. The agency also received a report on fake Honda parts in 2022. 

From January to November 2025, Facebook accounted for the largest share of reported listings at 54. This represented about half or 48 percent of the 118 total listings. 

Arevalo said Meta is not a signatory to IPOPHL’s e-commerce pact. But the agency has been able to request takedowns on Facebook Marketplace. 

Shopee followed with 29 reports, then TikTok Shop with nine, Lazada with eight and Instagram with two. Other websites accounted for 11 reports. 

Gutierrez said the pact with IPOPHL will be reviewed 12 months after signing. 

Campi, which represents about 28 automotive brands, is the 112th signatory to the IPOPHL e-commerce pact since its launch in 2021. It has partners across brands (97), online platforms (four) and business chambers and associations (11). INQ