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OE, OEM and Aftermarket Parts: What’s the Difference?
When choosing car parts, you will often come across terms such as OE, OEM, and Aftermarket. Although these terms are sometimes used interchangeably, they have different meanings. The main differences concern who manufactures the part, its connection to the vehicle manufacturer, and how it is supplied to the market.
Read the article →Bosch is a German company founded in 1886 that has shaped core automotive technologies since the late 19th century, from magneto ignition to electronic fuel injection and ABS. Today it is one of the world's largest suppliers of automotive parts and systems.
Continental is a German company founded in 1871 as a rubber-goods maker, today one of the world's four largest tire manufacturers, which also supplies braking components through its ATE brand and drive belts through ContiTech.
ZF Friedrichshafen began in 1915 building gearboxes for Zeppelin airships, and today — following its 2015 acquisition of American supplier TRW Automotive — ranks among the world's three largest automotive suppliers.
Valeo, the French automotive group headquartered in Paris, was founded in 1923 to make friction linings for brakes and clutches, and took its current name — Latin for 'I am well' — in 1980.
Mahle was founded in 1920 in Stuttgart as a piston maker by Hermann Mahle and his brother Ernst, and through the acquisition of Japanese filter manufacturers at the turn of the millennium became the world's largest supplier of filtration systems.
Denso was founded in 1949 as Nippon Denso, spun off from Toyota's electrical-components division, and today — still partly owned by Toyota — ranks as the world's second-largest automotive parts supplier.
NGK Spark Plug was founded in 1936 in Nagoya as a maker of ceramic-based spark plugs, and in 2023 rebranded as Niterra, retaining its position as one of the world's leading spark-plug and sensor suppliers.
Brembo was founded in 1961 near Bergamo by the Bombassei family, and since its 1975 debut on Ferrari's Formula 1 cars has become one of the world's most recognisable brake manufacturers, active in both motorsport and road-car parts.
Delphi was created on 1 January 1999 as General Motors' spun-off parts division, went through bankruptcy and several corporate restructurings, and ultimately landed in 2023 in the newly formed PHINIA, a company focused on fuel-injection and ignition systems.
TRW traces back to the Cleveland Cap Screw Company, founded in 1901, spent most of the 20th century developing steering, suspension and airbag technology, and was acquired by Germany's ZF in 2015, where it now lives on as a brand within the ZF Aftermarket portfolio.
MANN-FILTER is the automotive filtration brand of Germany's Mann+Hummel group, supplying air, oil, fuel and cabin filters to vehicle manufacturers and the independent aftermarket alike.
Hengst Filter is the automotive filtration brand of the German family company Hengst SE, built up from a single filter workshop in Münster founded in 1958.
MEYLE is a Hamburg-based, family-owned aftermarket parts brand that grew from a postwar parts-export business into a manufacturer of tens of thousands of its own components.
LEMFÖRDER is ZF Friedrichshafen's steering and chassis brand, tracing back to a single patented ball joint developed in Germany in 1947.
SACHS is ZF Friedrichshafen's clutch and shock-absorber brand, with roots going back to an 1894 bicycle-hub patent and more than a century of German engine and driveline engineering.
febi bilstein is the flagship parts brand of the German family-owned bilstein group, known for an unusually broad catalogue covering nearly every system on a vehicle.
BILSTEIN is a German shock-absorber and damping-technology brand, owned by ThyssenKrupp and historically distinct from the similarly named febi bilstein.
HELLA is a German automotive lighting and electronics brand, founded in 1899 in Lippstadt and now the lighting and electronics division of the FORVIA group.
Gates is a US belt and hose manufacturer founded in Denver in 1911, whose power-transmission components have been standard original equipment on engines worldwide for decades.
Magneti Marelli is an Italian automotive components brand founded in 1919 as a Fiat joint venture, now the aftermarket parts arm of the Marelli group.
Textar is a German brake-friction brand with roots going back to 1913, today built by TMD Friction Holdings and sold as one of the most widely fitted aftermarket brake pad brands in Europe.
Ferodo is a British brake-friction brand founded in 1897 by Herbert Frood, whose asbestos and later resin-composite linings helped define the modern brake pad; today it belongs to Tenneco's DRiV aftermarket group.
Champion is an American spark-plug brand founded in 1905 by racing pioneer Albert Champion, now owned by Tenneco's DRiV aftermarket division after passing through Cooper Industries and Federal-Mogul.
INA is a German engine-component and bearing brand founded in 1946 by brothers Wilhelm and Georg Schaeffler, today the aftermarket brand for engine, timing-drive and cooling-system parts within the Schaeffler Group.
Corteco is the independent-aftermarket sealing, mounting and filtration brand of the German Freudenberg Group, formed in 1996 out of a sealing-parts business whose Italian roots go back to 1925.
Kolbenschmidt is a German piston brand founded by Karl Schmidt in 1910, whose early aluminium-piston research helped establish the material in road engines; it is now part of the Rheinmetall group and reaches workshops through the MS Motorservice aftermarket network.
WABCO traces back to George Westinghouse's 1869 air-brake company and became a leading independent supplier of braking and stability systems for trucks, trailers and buses before ZF Friedrichshafen acquired it in 2020.
Varta is a German automotive battery brand whose roots go back to 1887, now manufactured and marketed by Clarios after its separation from Johnson Controls, while the original Varta AG continues separately as a consumer-battery company.
Dayco began in 1905 as an Ohio rubber-hose maker and grew into a global belt and timing-drive supplier that has changed owners several times, most recently passing to the private equity firm Hidden Harbor Capital Partners in 2022.
Donaldson traces back to a homemade tractor air filter built in 1915 and has grown into an independent, publicly traded filtration company headquartered in Minnesota, serving both original-equipment and aftermarket customers worldwide.
UFI Filters is an Italian manufacturer of automotive filtration and thermal management systems, founded in 1971 near Verona and now supplying both vehicle assembly lines and the independent aftermarket worldwide.
WIX Filters is a filtration brand founded in 1939 in Gastonia, North Carolina, that grew from a small cotton-mill workshop into a major global filter manufacturer now owned by the German MANN+HUMMEL group.
Elring is the gasket and sealing brand of ElringKlinger AG, a publicly listed German engineering group whose roots trace back to a Stuttgart business founded in 1879, long before the automobile itself was in mass production.
Nissens is a Danish manufacturer of automotive cooling and air-conditioning components, tracing its history back to a Horsens blacksmith shop founded in 1921 and now operating as part of the American group Standard Motor Products.
DT Spare Parts is the main product brand of Diesel Technic SE, a German company founded in 1972 that supplies replacement parts for trucks, trailers and buses to workshops in more than 150 countries.
SWAG is a German automotive-parts brand founded in 1954 in Dietzenbach, now owned by the bilstein group, known for supplying original-equipment-matching steering, suspension, engine and brake parts to the European aftermarket.
Stellox is an aftermarket automotive-parts brand established in 2005 by the German company ATH&S GmbH, positioned in the budget segment and sourced from third-party manufacturers rather than built on a single manufacturer's own factories.
Sampa is a Turkish manufacturer of aftermarket parts for trucks, trailers and buses, founded in 1994 in Samsun by Tarık Altuncu and now one of Turkey's leading exporters of commercial-vehicle components.
Blue Print is an aftermarket parts brand specializing in Japanese, Korean and other Asian vehicle makes, launched in 1994 by the British company ADL and now owned by the German bilstein group.
A.B.S. All Brake Systems is a family-owned Dutch aftermarket brand founded in 1978, focused on brake, steering, suspension and wheel-bearing components for the European car market.
ABAKUS is a Polish aftermarket parts brand established in 1994 in Warsaw, built around automotive lighting, engine cooling/air-conditioning components, mirrors and body parts.
AUGER is a German aftermarket brand founded in 2003 near Cologne, specializing in replacement parts for commercial vehicles, buses and trailers rather than passenger cars.
IAP International Automotive Parts is an Italian company founded in 1989 that pioneered the Italian distribution of original spare parts for Japanese and 4x4 vehicles, later launching its own Quality Parts aftermarket brand.
Japanparts Srl is an Italian aftermarket company founded in 1988, one of the first in Italy to specialize in parts for Japanese, South Korean and American vehicles, and today part of the Automotive Valley group alongside the Ashika and Japko brands.
ContiTech is the rubber and thermoplastic products division of the German Continental group, tracing its roots to Continental's founding as a rubber manufacturer in 1871 and organized under the ContiTech brand since 1991.
What warranty covers the traction battery in the BYD Seal U.
Blade Battery in the (E) 160kW variant: capacity, range, charging and warranty — what to know about the BYD Seal U's traction battery.
What actually affects battery life in the BYD Seal U.
AC and DC charging on the BYD Seal U — what's the difference.
What to check before installing a home wallbox for the BYD Seal U.
Why buy a boot mat for the BYD Seal U — it's not just about looks.
Slow charging on your BYD Seal? Check the cable before you suspect the onboard charger.
How the Jaecoo 7 PHEV's battery differs from a full-EV battery.
How many parts we actually stock for the Jaecoo 7.
How to order a part for the Jaecoo 7 — the VIN's role.
Six door wiring harnesses on the Jaecoo 7 — one for every door.
Why the oil filter matters for the Jaecoo 7's engine, and what a clogged one actually does.
The Jaecoo 7 has two different batteries — traction and starter. Which one do you mean?
Jaecoo 7 and Omoda 5 — why so many parts fit both.
Which Jaecoo 7 parts get ordered most often.
The Jaecoo 7's infotainment screen — what to do when it stops responding.
Choosing between genuine and aftermarket oil filters for the Jaecoo 7 — and why we still need your VIN.
Jaecoo 7 grille — currently not in our online catalog.
What the Jaecoo 7's "540°" camera system actually shows.
Brake pads for the Jaecoo 7. We'll check availability and match it to your VIN.
Front brake pads for the Jaecoo 7. We'll check availability and match it to your VIN.
Why a Jaecoo 7's LED headlight needs a whole new unit, not just a bulb.
What "Super Hybrid" in the Jaecoo 7's trim name actually means.
Front and rear brake discs on the Jaecoo 7 are different parts — here's the difference, and when both axles need replacing.
Ordering a Jaecoo 7 bumper? Check first whether you need the wiring or the body panel.
Camera or harness — what actually failed in the Jaecoo 7's 540° system.
Brake pads for the Jaecoo 7. We'll check availability and match it to your VIN.
Brake pads for the Jaecoo 7. We'll check availability and match it to your VIN.
Brake pads for the Jaecoo 7. We'll check availability and match it to your VIN.
A charging cable for the Jaecoo 7 PHEV — a real, available part.
Rubber or fabric — which boot mat suits the Jaecoo 7.
How to tell a Jaecoo 7's brake discs need replacing — not just the pads.
This Jaecoo 7 catalog listing is a bumper wiring harness — the same number as the Omoda 5's.
Traction battery in the Leapmotor T03 — a small EV, a smaller battery.
Onboard charger or cable — what "charger" actually means on the Leapmotor T03.
What affects battery life in the Leapmotor T03.
Why charging a city EV like the Leapmotor T03 takes longer than you'd expect.
Engine cover on the Leapmotor T03 — does an EV even need one?
The heat pump in the Leapmotor T03 — why it matters in winter.
A charging cable for the MG HS PHEV — a simple, replaceable part.
How many parts we actually stock for the MG HS.
What the "doors" listing in our MG HS catalog actually covers.
A musty smell, weak airflow — signs of a clogged cabin filter in the MG HS.
How often to replace the MG HS cabin filter, and what the swap actually involves.
Plain pollen filter or activated carbon — what the MG HS cabin filter actually stops.
Why the oil filter on the MG HS can't wait for a replacement.
An oil filter for the MG GS may also fit the MG HS.
What happens if you put off replacing the oil filter on an MG HS for too long.
Why put a screen protector on the MG HS's infotainment display.
Squealing, longer stopping distance — signs of worn brake pads on the MG HS.
Front and rear pads wear at different rates on the MG HS — here's why.
Genuine or aftermarket — how to choose brake pads for the MG HS.
Where the MG HS PHEV's charging socket is, and how to look after it.
Four numbers under "MG HS headlight" — which one is yours.
The MG HS's front headlight isn't just a bulb — here's every part in our catalog.
MG HS engine hood — currently not in our online catalog.
Universal or tailored — what's the difference for an MG HS boot mat.
A raised-edge boot mat for the MG HS — why that design detail matters.
A boot mat made for the MG GS may also fit the MG HS — here's why.
Why we always ask for a VIN when ordering MG HS parts.
Which MG HS parts get ordered most often.
What we actually stock for the MG HS's rear axle.
Ordering a cabin filter for the MG HS — what the process looks like.
What a full oil and filter change on the MG HS involves.
The MG HS's grille is actually three different parts, not one.
What a brake-pad replacement on the MG HS involves beyond the pads themselves.
What warranty covers the traction battery in an MG HS PHEV.
The MG HS uses different brake discs depending on model year — here's what fits your car.
The upper bumper section and the lower grille on the MG HS are two separate parts.
How to check your MG HS's brake discs without removing the wheel.
MG HS front wiper — one number, driver's side only.
Front and rear bumpers on the MG HS — two separate part sets.
The lower trim strip under an MG HS's bumper is a separate part, not part of the bumper itself.
The MG ZS hybrid's battery — how it differs from the fully electric version's.
How many parts we stock for the MG ZS — and why the EV version matters.
Oil filter for the MG ZS 1.5 — same number as the hybrid version.
Does a hybrid MG ZS need more frequent oil filter changes?
Tempered glass or PET film for the MG ZS screen — which to choose.
MG ZS brake pads — the petrol and electric versions use different front pads.
What you actually get when you order a complete MG ZS headlight.
Why two different number pairs fit the MG ZS's front headlight.
The MG ZS's hood and its hinges are separate catalog items.
Universal or tailored — what's the difference for an MG ZS boot mat.
Why a boot mat can differ between the MG ZS and the MG ZS EV.
How to order the right MG ZS part without a version mix-up.
What extends the life of the MG ZS hybrid's battery.
When MG ZS brake pads need urgent replacement.
Left and right MG ZS headlights are always different catalog numbers.
How to tell whether an MG ZS needs a new hood or just a hinge.
The MG ZS's front bumper — three related parts under one search term.
The MG ZS's upper bumper trim is its own catalog line.
Headlamp or headlight — it's the same part on the MG ZS, just different search wording.
Omoda 5 fender — when a repair is enough, and when it needs replacing.
839 parts for the Omoda 5 in our catalog — a full category breakdown.
Why the Omoda 5's catalog is growing faster than a typical new model's.
How to order a part for the Omoda 5 — why we always ask for a VIN.
Which Omoda 5 parts get ordered most often.
Door sill trims on the Omoda 5 — front and rear are different numbers.
Four cabin filter numbers for the Omoda 5 — they're all variants of the same part.
The Omoda 5 oil filter — one number, no branding complications.
Omoda 5 air filter — just the element, or the whole housing?
How to apply a screen protector on the Omoda 5 without air bubbles.
Brake pads for the Omoda 5 — the same numbers as its sister model, the Jaecoo 7.
Squealing and pedal vibration — signs of worn brake pads on the Omoda 5.
What brake pads for the Omoda 5 cost — and why the price only appears after you ask.
Front and rear pads on the Omoda 5 are different numbers — here's which.
What on the Omoda 5's steering column actually gets replaced.
The Omoda 5's front headlight — the same part as the Jaecoo 7's.
Omoda 5 engine hood — currently not in our online catalog.
A Jaecoo 7 boot mat may also fit the Omoda 5.
Rubber or fabric — which boot mat suits the Omoda 5.
Can't find a part for the Omoda 5 online? That doesn't mean we don't have it.
Omoda 5 parts split into two broad groups — mechanical and body.
How long Omoda 5 parts take to arrive — what to expect with a new model.
Omoda 5 — why left and right door trims are ordered separately.
When to replace the Omoda 5's oil filter, and what to watch for.
How to order the right brake pads for the Omoda 5 without a number mix-up.
Why fixing an Omoda 5's steering column is a workshop job, not a DIY one.
An Omoda 5 hood may share a catalog number with the Jaecoo 7.
Heated windshield on the Omoda 5 — how to check it's working properly.
Why the Omoda 5's front discs wear faster than the rear ones.
What a full oil change on the Omoda 5 covers, beyond just the filter.
The "fuel tank" isn't always the whole tank on an Omoda 5.
This catalog listing is the Omoda 5's bumper wiring harness, not the bumper itself.
Four brake-disc numbers for the Omoda 5 — which one fits your car.
The Omoda 5's control arm — signs that shouldn't wait.
Looking for the Omoda 5's outer bumper cover? Here's how to order it.
How to tell if it's the Omoda 5's bumper harness, not just a sensor, that's faulty.
The Omoda 9 may have two different batteries — here's which one you mean.
Oil filter for the Omoda 9 — one number for the whole model.
AC and DC charging on the Omoda 9 PHEV — what's the difference.
Brake pads for the Omoda 9 — separate numbers front and rear.
What to check before installing a home wallbox for the Omoda 9.
Looking after the charging socket and cable on an Omoda 9 PHEV.
Left and right Omoda 9 headlights are always ordered separately.
The Omoda 9's large boot needs a mat sized to match.
The 12V battery in the Omoda 9 — you still need it, even on the hybrid version.
What warranty covers the battery in a plug-in hybrid Omoda 9.
Omoda 9 — the brand's newest model, still a growing parts catalog.
Squealing and longer stopping distance — when to replace Omoda 9 brake pads.
The Omoda 9 PHEV's charging cable — currently not in our online catalog.
Why fuel-system work on an Omoda 9 is a workshop job, not a DIY one.
Omoda 9 bumper — currently not in our online catalog.
The Omoda 7's sliding screen — a unique feature in this segment.
Which generic scanners reach the battery management module, and what the common P0A codes actually mean.
A warranty repair and a ten-year-old taxi need different answers. A simple decision rule for the counter.
Rear bushings and top mounts dominate our returns data. Numbers, symptoms and replacement intervals.
What a workshop needs before opening an HV pack, and which service parts are available separately.
A plastic housing that cracks past 60,000 km — how to spot it before the head runs hot.
How the numbering works across Chery, Geely and Dongfeng, and why a suffix change matters.