‘Non-original’ spare parts to the rescue
As long as the parts used in a vehicle are made of quality materials and have traceability, the consumer is not at risk.
The last thing one needs while travelling is having your car break down, leaving you on the side of the road waiting for help to arrive.
With so many reports of stranded motorists being attacked by criminals, ensuring your vehicle is always in perfect roadworthy condition is of utmost importance.
The skyrocketing costs of servicing one’s car encourages many people to skip maintenance schedules and keep on driving until something breaks.
The expensive nature of original parts contributes significantly to the problem.
Chief executive of Right to Repair, Kate Elliott, said since the Competition Commission implemented new guidelines last year, consumers are finally allowed to shop around and use non-original quality spare parts which generally come with a more favourable price tag.
Right to Repair is an organisation committed to advocating consumer choice.
The new guidelines define original spare parts as replacement spare parts produced by, on behalf of, or under the instruction of an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) in accordance with specifications and production standards provided by the OEM.
This includes those spare parts distributed by the OEM or any other authorised distributors, or when marked with the trademark of an OEM.
“Basically, these are any parts the OEM places its brand on, or sells through authorised dealers,” Elliott said.
Non-original spare parts – excluding counterfeit spare parts – are defined as spare parts that carry a warranty and are legitimate and traceable for sale in the aftermarket.
They are not parts specifically commissioned, sold, or branded by an OEM.
Car manufacturers are not part manufacturers. Their branded parts are outsourced to manufacturers such as Bosch, GUD and Mahle, to name a few.
“The parts manufacturers produce the same parts they produce for the OEMs under their own names and under white labels. In reality there is no such thing as an OEM manufactured part. Parts produced by reputable manufacturers under a different name, are in fact of the same quality as those commissioned by the OEMs,” Elliott said.
The Tyre Equipment and Parts Association believes that for too long the consumer has been led to believe that original or genuine parts are only those which come in an OEM branded box.
As long as the parts used in a vehicle are made of quality materials and have traceability, the consumer is not at risk.
“The guidelines state that a warranty on a vehicle cannot be voided because of the use of equal matching quality parts. It is only if such a part, or a mistake made during the installation thereof, were to cause a fault that a portion of the warranty may be voided,” says Elliot.
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