The local wheel distributor of a specialized alloy wheel brand for SUVs and trucks has cautioned the public against buying counterfeits following a vehicular accident in Surigao City involving supposed Black Rhino fakes.
This follows a Facebook post by Gerence Caralus, where a black Isuzu mu-X is seen on the side of the road – with its front two wheels lodged in a canal and its body heavily damaged. Two wheels (apparently Black Rhino wheels) appeared to have failed.
In a statement, however, Black Rhino Wheels Philippines insisted that the wheels fitted on the SUV are counterfeits.
“There has been a post circulating on social media of a vehicular accident in Surigao. The wheels on the vehicle, even if it has the Black Rhino Wheels logo, are counterfeit wheels,” the company said on its official Facebook account, and reminded the public to refrain from purchasing fake alloy wheels that are being sold in the market.
The quote, attributed to company managing director Sam Liuson, continued: “We would like to warn the public to only buy original Black Rhino Wheels from authorized dealers… The best identification is that this design (Diamante) does not come in the gold-bronze finish as seen in the photos posted. The specific finish is not easily achieved by repainting and can only be done in a factory for mass production.”
Liuson said that the company’s products “come with stringent quality control testing and certification that passes US and Japan standards such as the DOT and JWL-T.”
Black Rhino warned that counterfeit wheels might resemble their products but “may have not undergone actual testing,” and advised the “the public to only buy original Black Rhino Wheels from authorized dealers, the Concept One Wheels main showroom located at 318 Santolan Road, San Juan or at the Black Rhino Outlet Store in Overland Kings, Parañaque.”
If buyers want to verify the authenticity of their Black Rhino wheels, they may send a photo of these to 0917-8801111 or to the Facebook page @blackrhinowheels.ph. The company also urged the public to report stores selling counterfeit Black Rhino Wheels. — With Kap Maceda Aguila