The Certified Automotive Parts Association has developed terminology to better define generic auto parts and to avoid confusion and misunderstanding about what the product is compared to those made by a vehicle's original equipment manufacturers.
The term preferred now is "functionally equivalent" rather than "like kind and quality," the Washington-based CAPA recently announced.
"'Functionally equivalent' is a higher standard. 'Like kind and quality' kind of implies that it may be like the object. If it’s like, it may be similar. A higher standard means the same as," said Robert Hurns, counsel for the Des Plaines, Ill.-based National Association of Independent Insurers.
