NAIROBI, Kenya, July 9 – Automotive and equipment distributor Car and General (C&G) has announced new measures to combat the growing threat of counterfeit motor oil infiltrating the Kenyan market.
The company says it is rolling out a digital verification platform that will allow customers to authenticate its products in real time before purchase.
C&G’s new system will enable buyers to scan product labels or use a USSD code to verify the authenticity of items, especially its motor oils, which the firm says are the most targeted by counterfeiters.
“You will be surprised to note that a lot of the issues we have with counterfeit products are our motor oils,” said George Rubiri, the company’s General Manager.
“These fake oils are often repackaged to look exactly like ours, and this not only affects our sales but also compromises the performance of our customers’ vehicles.”
C&G estimates its monthly oil sales at around Sh50 million.
The new initiative is expected to curb revenue losses and improve consumer confidence in its brand.
Kenya faces a major economic threat from counterfeit goods, with the ACA estimating annual losses at Sh800 billion, nearly 9 percent of the country’s GDP.
Automotive products, along with electronics, healthcare items, and agricultural inputs, are among the most affected sectors.
China remains the leading source of these illicit imports.
The company hopes that digitizing product verification will help seal loopholes, a move it says will strengthen its market presence.
