Everyone can imagine that the use of counterfeit tires and batteries entails risks. But the latest study by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) now makes clear that these counterfeit products cost the EU also a lot of money , EUR 2.4 billion each year.
The findings of this study show that:
- EUR 2.2 billion ― corresponding to 7.5 % of all sales in tyres for cars, trucks and two-wheeled vehicles ― is lost each year due to counterfeiting across the EU.
- The presence of counterfeit batteries in the EU market costs legitimate industry EUR 180 million each year, which is equivalent to 1.8 % of the sector’s sales.
- These lost sales translate into the loss of approximately 8 400 jobs across both sectors, as legitimate manufacturers employ fewer people than they would have done in the absence of counterfeiting.
- In terms of lost taxes, the total loss of government revenue as a result of counterfeit tyres and batteries amounts to EUR 340 million.
The full study in English and the Executive Summaries in 23 languages can be found here
Lost sales due to counterfeiting of tyres and batteries by country (2010-2015)
