Ford filed a federal trademark infringement suit against four companies claiming they sold, distributed, and advertised thousands of products, including truck grilles and other parts for at least two years. The company – in tandem with state and federal law enforcement agencies – claims an investigation turned up significant evidence that the companies in question worked together to produce and distribute thousands of counterfeit products potentially worth millions of dollars and sell them on their own websites, and through third-party online retailers like Amazon, per Repairer Driven News.
The complaint, filed August 8th, 2022 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, names wholesaler Crov Inc., shipping company Sunward Logistics USA, importer FD-All Together Automotive, and manufacturing company Qingdao Hairunkaiyuan Auto Parts Co as defendants. Ford says the operation to produce, distribute, and sell counterfeit items has harmed its reputation and that they are of lower quality than genuine original equipment parts. Among the items seized in multiple raids were counterfeit truck grilles, in addition to spark plugs, glow plugs, ignition coils, and emblems.
Ford became aware of the counterfeit items at the 2019 SEMA show, where Crov circulated a catalog featuring unauthorized Ford grilles for sale and subsequently engaged in test buys with the company. Those buys showed that the products were sold by HQ and shipped by Sunward through two of its warehouse in California and New Jersey. Law enforcement agencies then secured a search warrant for the New Jersey location, where almost 4,000 counterfeit grilles plus 5,000 “F” and “R” letters were seized. The automaker says that these companies typically ship the letters separately in an effort to avoid unwanted scrutiny by U.S. Customs.
The Blue Oval stated in its complaint that the defendants are still engaged in counterfeit operations, despite additional raids and product seizures, some of which Ford was able to purchase itself, a transaction that included fake Raptor grilles that arrived without the letter “F” but shipped separately. Additionally, the automaker says that counterfeit grilles present a safety concern due to poor fitment and the potential for the parts to block sensors or impact vehicle safety.
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Comments
This is a constant problem that pops up into the news every few years.
Chinese are involved. I’m shocked.
at least they had parts-unlike farley and his croonies-maybe i could order my brake part ford is waiting for and then i could get my one year old maverick from the dealer who has it sitting on his lot while figures out what to do-waited over 13 months-at least I can drive out and look at it-ford should be embarassed and ashamed of their customer service
So go buy a Chevy.
It seems you’ve become a bit incoherent. Perhaps don’t wait for everything under the summer sun.
Surprised the fake fuel and oil filters weren’t mentioned. Big problem if you have a powerstoke
One can tell the genuine Ford blue oval badges from the fake. The real ones are now just bare metal. I’ve never seen a bow-tie badge with the paint missing. Nor Subaru, Nissan, Dodge, Kia…