Major  European  automotive  component  &  equipment  manufacturing  companies,
represented by  the CLEPA (European Association of Automotive Suppliers), started last year a standardized process to combat counterfeiting of automotive parts.  In addition  to posing  a  threat  to  consumer  safety,  it  is  estimated  that  product  piracy  costs  the  global automotive parts industry € 5-10 billion per year.