BIG THREE CRACKS DOWN ON PARTS COUNTERFEITERS

There's a new sheriff in town, and he doesn't like sham operations selling auto parts under the names of General Motors, Ford and the Mopar division of Daimler-Chrysler.

The Big Three have formed a posse of sorts, called the Global Industry Network, to hunt down and seek charges against parts counterfeiters. These seedy outfits sell parts that are packaged as if they came directly from the automakers. But these parts seldom meet performance standards set by the automakers. It's a huge problem that results in lost sales of $12 billion worldwide for the auto industry, according to the FTC.

GM recently raided 14 counterfeit retailers and four print shops in the Middle East. In September, an automobile glass factory in China was raided and several bogus windshields were confiscated. In Mexico, Argentina and Brazil, Ford has identified several dozen counterfeiters producing and trafficking everything from wheel covers to suspension parts to air filters.

The Big Three may be competitors to the end, but in this case they speak with one voice.