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ZF Aftermarket is intensifying its efforts to combat counterfeit automotive parts through its ‘Keep it Real’ campaign. The initiative highlights the dangers counterfeit parts pose to drivers, passengers, and road users, as well as the economic impact on businesses and reputations. By working with investigators, customs officers, and local authorities worldwide, ZF is taking a proactive stance in identifying and eliminating fake products before they enter the supply chain.
Key Highlights:
- ZF’s intellectual property team is headquartered in Germany but operates on a global scale to track and dismantle counterfeit networks.
- Counterfeit operations target three primary areas: fake parts, copied packaging, and fraudulent advertisements.
- The team collaborates with law enforcement and ZF technical experts to identify counterfeit goods, sometimes requiring forensic testing before confirming authenticity.
- Upon confirmation, ZF must act within a short window—often just three days—to coordinate raids through local authorities.
- Financial and legal repercussions for counterfeiters vary, ranging from monetary penalties to prison sentences, depending on the severity of the offense.
- Revenue recovered from legal actions is reinvested into the fight against counterfeiting.

The Process of Fighting Fakes
ZF’s anti-counterfeit team works tirelessly behind the scenes to detect and remove fake products from the market. With many counterfeit parts visually identical to genuine ones, verification often requires technical analysis. Suspicious parts undergo functional and quality testing on ZF’s test benches to ensure they meet the company’s rigorous standards.
Once confirmed as counterfeit, ZF files legal requests to initiate raids in collaboration with local agencies. The company does not control when or how raids are executed, but once a raid is completed, the team steps in to assess the scale of the operation and initiate legal proceedings. All counterfeit products are immediately destroyed to prevent them from re-entering the market.
The Hidden Dangers of Counterfeit Parts
Counterfeiters are increasingly sophisticated, and some fake parts pose extreme safety risks. One of the most alarming discoveries made by ZF’s team involved fraudulently remanufactured airbags, which had been stuffed into steering wheels with no actual functionality. The potential consequences of such fakes on the road are catastrophic.
Commonly Counterfeited ZF Parts
- LEMFÖRDER chassis parts
- SACHS clutches
- TRW brake pads
- WABCO valves
ZF urges consumers, businesses, and distributors to stay vigilant. The ‘Keep it Real’ campaign provides essential insights on how to identify genuine ZF products and protect customers from potentially life-threatening counterfeits.
For more details on ZF’s anti-counterfeiting efforts, visit their official campaign page.
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