General Motors Europe

Brand Protection
Parts Identification Guide for Field
Staff and Customs Officials

Do you have any questions or need further information?

Simply contact us by phone or e-mail.

Phone: +49 6142 761451

E-mail: gme.brandprotection@gm.com

Questions?
General Motors Europe, Brand Protection
April 2016 gme.brandprotection@gm.com

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 Purpose of this Booklet Table of Contents
Counterfeit parts and accessories have become an increasing problem for our brands. This reference booklet
will help you and your colleagues to determine if a given part is genuine or counterfeit. 1. What Is Protected? (Intellectual Property) 4
1.1 Trademark Logos
1.2 Model Names

! The most reliable and useful tool by which to tell if you are dealing with a genuine
General Motors (GM) product is the secure part number label on the packaging. 2. GM Trademark on Spare Parts

3. Counterfeits
5

4. Anti­Counterfeit Measures: Secure Part Number Labels 6

4.1 Current Secure Part Number Label GM Europe (Opel/Vauxhall)
4.2 Label Security Feature (Opel/Vauxhall)
4.3 Original Labels with Unique Sequential Tracking Numbers 7
4.4 Label Security Feature Chevrolet (GM Korea)
4.5 Oil 8

5. Past Secure Part Number Labels (Still Valid) 9

GENUINE 6. Examples of Counterfeit Labels 10

6.1 GM Korea label
6.2 GM secure part number label

7. Parts Shipment Guidelines – How to Detect Suspicious Shipments 11

8. Examples of Commonly Counterfeited Parts 14

8.1 Brake Pads
8.2 Timing Belt Kits
8.3 Water Pumps 15
GENUINE
8.4 Filters
8.5 Keys 16
8.6 Wheels and Wheel Trims
8.7 Electronic Diagnostic Tools 17

9. Diversion and Dealer Loyalty 18

9.1 Supplier Parts with GM Trademark
9.2 Supplier Parts with GM Trademark Removed

If you have any questions, please contact 9.3

9.4
Parts Storage
Dealer and Authorized Repairer Invoicing
19

gme.brandprotection@gm.com 9.5 Websites, Domains, Stores Using Logos

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 1. What Is Protected? (Intellectual Property) 2. GM Trademark on Spare Parts
1.1 Trademark Logos
Our trademarks are protected. Any use of a logo that might suggest a business relation where none
exists is prohibited.

GENUINE GENUINE GENUINE

1.2 Model Names GENUINE GENUINE

Model names and their fonts are both protected. For example:
GM genuine spare parts are only marked with the GM brand (no vehicle brands i.e. Opel, Chevrolet
Opel Chevrolet Cadillac or Vauxhall used on spare parts).
• ADAM • KARL • Captiva • ATS
• Ampera • Meriva • Cruze • CTS
• Astra • Mokka • Orlando • Escalade
• Cascada
• Combo
•
•
Movano
Vivaro
• Spark • SRX
3. Counterfeits
• Corsa • Zafira
• Insignia Counterfeiting is the intentional and calculated reproduction of a genuine part or accessory. It is
aimed at tricking the buyer into believing the copy is a genuine article.

COUNTERFEIT

COUNTERFEIT COUNTERFEIT

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 4. Anti­Counterfeit Measures:
Secure Part Number Labels 4.3 Original Labels with Unique Sequential Tracking Numbers

The security labels on our products and parts are the easiest and most reliable way to determine The following picture shows an example of original labels with unique sequential tracking numbers,
if a part is original. All GM Europe spare parts should have a secure part number label. which is an indicator of original parts.

4.1 Current Secure Part Number Label GM Europe (Opel/Vauxhall)

GENUINE

GENUINE

4.2 Label Security Feature (Opel/Vauxhall) COUNTERFEIT

• The GM logo in the stripe rotates by 90 degrees depending on viewing angle

• The colours of the hologram change depending on the viewing and lighting angle

Sequential number always the

same is a counterfeit

4.4 Label Security Feature Chevrolet (GM Korea)

Chevrolet Europe parts are imported from Korea and use the GM Korea secure part number label.
On this label, the GM-branded stripe changes colour dependent on its exposure to light and the
viewing angle from clear to cyan blue.

GENUINE GENUINE

CLEAR CYAN (BLUE)

Horizontal position Vertical position

GENUINE GENUINE

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 5. Past Secure Part Number Labels
4.5 Oil
(Still Valid)
• Shipped from GM EU warehouses or in-country sources
• The logo in the 10 x 15 mm hologram sticker rotates by 90 degrees depending on viewing angle The following labels have previously been used and are still valid:

GM# 9193872
Qty 100
Disc, Brake

X00001234
GR.5.809 8 47 00 711
GENUINE GENUINE
S0113 MADE IN (COUNTRY)

GM logo (current) Genuine oil – original D-65423 Rüsselsheim

GENUINE label on the back
GENUINE GENUINE

GM Hologram Stripe Label: GM Hologram Stripe Label:

• Introduced in Q1/2015
• Russian EAC mark replaces ‘CTP’ mark
(upper right corner)
• The GM logo in the stripe rotates by
90 degrees depending on the viewing angle
• Introduced in Q1/2014
• Same as current label but with previous
Russian customs mark (upper right corner)
• The GM logo in the stripe rotates by
90 degrees depending on the viewing angle

GENUINE GENUINE

Opel logo (pre-2015) Genuine oil – original

GENUINE label on the back

• Not a hologram
• No micro text in the
logo frame
• No turning logo

GENUINE GENUINE

COUNTERFEIT

Opel/Vauxhall Hologram Stripe Label: GM Hologram Stripe Label:

• Introduced in Q3/2011
COUNTERFEIT • Company name Adam Opel AG
• Opel/Vauxhall logos used
Counterfeit oil – fake label on the back • Variant with Vauxhall/Opel logos 2009−2010
• The Opel logo in the stripe rotates by
• Introduced in 2008 with hologram stripe feature
• Company name GM Europe GmbH
• The GM logo in the stripe rotates by
90 degrees depending on viewing angle

! Oil is never imported to the EU. 90 degrees depending on viewing angle

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 6. Examples of Counterfeit Labels 7. Parts Shipment Guidelines –
The label security feature is the most reliable and simple method to tell genuine from counterfeit labels! How to Detect Suspicious Shipments
• Rotating logo feature tells genuine label from counterfeit
• Counterfeit label quality ranges from poor to very good

6.1 GM Korea label

GENUINE COUNTERFEIT

Genuine parts are never sent unpack­ Shipments of loose packaging are

! aged. They always are packed in boxes

or bags with a secure PN label.
! suspicious. We do not ship or import
packaging.

COUNTERFEIT

6.2 GM secure part number label

GENUINE COUNTERFEIT

Genuine GM Europe labels are always Part number label shipments are

! sent as a roll. Sender is always

OPSEC (UK).
! suspicious. GME labels are never sent
as flat sheets.

COUNTERFEIT COUNTERFEIT

FEIT
NTER
COU PARTS
OPEL
FEIT
NTER
COU PARTS
VW

FEIT
NTER S
COUNTERFEIT COUNTERFEIT COU ES PART
CED
MER

! Several brands shipped together.

Original spare parts are never sent together with other vehicle brand spare parts.

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 Luton Breda
Bochum

Ruesselsheim
GENUINE GM COUNTERFEIT

! Original packaging has high quality.

! Counterfeit packaging has poor quality.

Zaragoza

GENUINE GENUINE

Re-usable containers Metal transport container for airbags

European Opel warehouses

!
Parts are imported only to Opel/GM warehouses. Parts imported into the EU will only be
add­ressed to an Opel, GM or Vauxhall (UK) company in Germany, the Netherlands, Spain or
the UK. Parts for import to any other companies or countries are suspect!

GENUINE GENUINE

Re-usable containers Airbags for vehicle assembly

!
Parts meant for the assembly line are never packaged. They are sent in re-usable racks,
containers and boxes and are addressed to a manufacturing location
(no secure labels – no packaging).

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 8. Examples of Commonly
Counterfeited Parts 8.3 Water Pumps

No GM
8.1 Brake Pads logo

GENUINE COUNTERFEIT

Genuine part: correct part number/catalogue Counterfeit part: part number does not match
number combination is applied. catalogue number. Foil stripe – no hologram.

8.4 Filters
GENUINE COUNTERFEIT

COUNTERFEIT COUNTERFEIT
COUNTERFEIT

The counterfeit filter can be easily mistaken for an original.

Counterfeit brake pads with the
Opel Blitz applied

! GM parts are normally marked with the GM logo. GM does not apply the Opel Blitz to
any car parts.

8.2 Timing Belt Kits

COUNTERFEIT COUNTERFEIT

Packaging of the counterfeit filters: all have the Counterfeit oil filter
same tracking number.

GENUINE COUNTERFEIT

Genuine timing belt kit with the GM hologram Counterfeit timing belt kit with fake labels
stripe label on packaging (foil stripe – no hologram)

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 8.5 Keys 8.7 Electronic Diagnostic Tools

• Keys are never imported to the EU (i.e. postal shipments from China, Hong Kong) Samples of counterfeit diagnostic tools
• Opel keys are sent individually cut to Opel dealers from Rüsselsheim
• Only authorized companies in selected locations receive uncut keys from Rüsselsheim

COUNTERFEIT

COUNTERFEIT COUNTERFEIT

Example of seized keys’ shipments

! Postal imports of keys to the EU are always suspicious.

8.6 Wheels and Wheel Trims

COUNTERFEIT COUNTERFEIT

COUNTERFEIT COUNTERFEIT

Chevrolet wheel trims Opel wheel trims

COUNTERFEIT

! Seize all imports – GM imports only from Bosch USA.

COUNTERFEIT COUNTERFEIT

Alloy wheel with Opel centre caps Opel centre caps

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 9. Diversion and Dealer Loyalty
9.3 Parts Storage
Diversion is the unauthorized sale of genuine GM parts with or without GM logo.
• A GM supplier uses a GM­owned tool to produce spare parts in excess of the GM order Non-GM parts must be stored separately by dealers and authorized repairers (segregation).
(e.g. overproduction) and sells them to the independent aftermarket. Employees must be able to clearly see which parts are GM and which are not.
• A GM supplier sells rejected parts to the independent aftermarket.

Field staff need to understand and recognize diversion

• to identify diverting suppliers,
• to understand what parts your dealers/repairers are buying (loyalty),
• to Iook for trademark (TM) abuse on diverted parts.

9.1 Supplier Parts with GM Trademark

Only genuine GM parts are permitted to have the GM trademark. Supplier parts that are sold with
the GM trademark are not permitted (trademark infringement).

No segregation Correct segregation

9.4 Dealer and Authorized Repairer Invoicing

Usage of the same part number for GM and non-GM parts is prohibited. Non-GM parts must be
marked as such on the invoice, e.g. with an ‘X’. The customer must be able to identify exactly if
non-GM parts have been used.

Lamp with GM trademark applied Engine gasket with GM trademark applied

9.2 Supplier Parts with GM Trademark Removed

Suppliers must remove the GM trademark from any parts they sell in the independent aftermarket.

9.5 Websites, Domains, Stores Using Logos

Radiator with GM trademark removed Gasket with GM trademark removed

! Removed trademark indicates same tool used for GM and aftermarket production. Registered logos are not allowed to be used on
websites without permission.
The use of a registered trade name, i.e. Opel,
Vauxhall or Chevrolet in a website address
(domain) is not allowed without permission.

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