The Ministerial Statistical Service for Internal Security (SSMSI) published its annual report on Insecurity and Crime 2024 on July 10, 2025. This revealed 96,100 thefts of vehicle accessories recorded in 2024, an increase of +4% compared to 2023. These offenses constitute a significant proportion of property crimes, and their clearance rate remains below 7% one year after the events (SSMSI – Annual Report 2024).
These data, widely reported in the press, confirm a crime rate now estimated at one theft every three minutes. The most targeted parts are those with high market value or those that are easy to sell: headlights, rims and wheels, catalytic converters, electronic components, and even bodywork parts. Their resale is largely carried out via online trading platforms, which have become a major vector for the sale of parts of dubious origin.
For several years, Mobilians has repeatedly alerted public authorities to this situation. These actions have led to the removal of a number of advertisements for the sale of PIEC (parts from the circular economy), posted online outside of the regulatory framework. The problem persists, however: advertisements continue to circulate, fueling the parallel market and undermining motorists’ confidence.
In light of this, it is essential to remember that reuse and remanufacturing are based on serious and regulated practices . Approved centers for the treatment of End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs), like remanufacturing workshops, apply strict specifications: ensuring complete traceability of parts, controlling their quality and offering an appropriate guarantee. Many players go even further by engaging in certification processes, such as QUALICERT certification. In addition, the extremely low return rates demonstrate the reliability of reuse and remanufacturing parts, in contrast to the uncertainties of the parallel market.
The legal reuse sector has official traceability information for each vehicle processed, such as the VIN number of the donor vehicle and the administrative destruction certificate. This information, recorded by approved ELV centers, guarantees the origin of the parts and can be used by professionals to certify their compliance.
In addition, Decree No. 2016-703 of May 30, 2016, defined the PIEC, which groups together the components marketed by approved VHU centers after preparation for reuse, as well as parts reconditioned in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications, sold under the label “standard exchange”. In the same spirit, ADEME points out that remanufacturing is a rigorous and standardized industrial process that allows a used part to be restored to a state of performance equivalent to, or even superior to, the original.
“The figures published by the SSMSI highlight the increase in thefts of automotive parts. In this context, traceability appears more than ever to be an essential lever: it guarantees the safety of motorists, supports professionals and helps to dry up illegal circuits,” says Julien Dubois, President of the Remanufacturing branch of Mobilians.
Mobilians stresses that this requirement must also apply to online sales platforms, and reaffirms its willingness to cooperate with the public authorities to stem the dissemination of illegal advertisements which fuel the parallel market.
About MOBILIANS
MOBILIANS is the leading movement for business leaders in the automotive trade and repair and mobility services sectors: cars, motorcycles, bicycles, industrial vehicles, scooters, etc. Our professional organization represents nearly 180,000 local businesses and 560,000 non-relocatable jobs throughout France. MOBILIANS defends the individual and collective interests of mobility professionals and supports them in the development of their professions. It deploys forward-looking action for sustainable development and the promotion of responsible mobility, in collaboration with all stakeholders.
