NAIROBI, Kenya – Customers will now have the opportunity to verify the authenticity of Car & General products before purchase, following the company’s rollout of a new digital verification system aimed at curbing counterfeit motor oil in the market.
The platform allows users to authenticate products in real time by simply scanning a label or dialing a USSD code.
It’s a customer-friendly solution that not only boosts confidence in Car & General’s brand but also protects vehicle owners from the damaging effects of fake motor oils.
“Counterfeiters have become so sophisticated that their packaging often looks exactly like ours,” said George Rubiri, General Manager at Car & General.
“This hurts our business, but more importantly, it compromises the safety and performance of our customers’ vehicles.”
Motor oils are among the most targeted products, with Car & General estimating monthly sales of about Sh 50 million.
Kenya continues to lose an estimated Sh 800 billion annually to counterfeit goods, according to the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA).
Automotive products, along with electronics and pharmaceuticals, remain among the most affected sectors.
With this customer-first digital move, Car & General joins a growing list of companies turning to technology to safeguard both their products and their consumers.
The Kenya Association of Manufacturers estimates that 40% of the market share is lost annually to counterfeits
