Today, a car is made up of numerous different components. The OEM car parts installed at the factory comply with defined standards. However, not all car parts are manufactured by the car manufacturers themselves. Find out now everything you need to know about OEM parts, who produces them and how quality is ensured.

Read more: Used parts: How to check the quality of used car parts

OEM parts for car production

OEM car parts are manufactured exclusively for the respective car manufacturer. In earlier times, it was often common for all parts for a car to be produced at the automaker’s plant. For example, in the early days of car manufacturing, car manufacturers produced their own car tires for their car models. Today, manufacturers such as Michelin, Bridgestone, Pirelli and Continental deliver the tires directly to the factory according to the manufacturer’s specifications. In many areas, carmakers now rely on the services of suppliers who produce the necessary parts. It is not unusual for three quarters of modern cars to be made up of supplied parts. Only a few parts are purchased as readily available parts. For most vehicle parts, outsourced development and production takes place according to fixed specifications of the car manufacturer.

Is it always the car manufacturers who produce the OEM parts?

OEM auto parts are produced by numerous manufacturers for the automaker. This is usually done according to exact specifications from the carmaker. This is because even large vehicle manufacturers cannot produce all parts in their own plants due to limited production capacity. Outsourcing the production of certain components can also offer advantages. Parts manufacturers are professionals in their field and often have a long tradition of manufacturing. Also, certain technologies often originate not with the automakers, but with the manufacturers of the vehicle components. For example, innovative lighting technology in cars often comes from manufacturers such as Hella. The German automotive supplier operates a development center and supplies headlamp systems for numerous vehicle models. Eberspächer, on the other hand, is regarded as a specialist for factory-fitted auxiliary heaters. Innovative vehicle seats and interior trim often come from vehicle supplier Lear.

Which companies manufacture OEM automotive parts?

Today, parts for automotive construction are produced by countless companies in the supplier sector. The manufacturer of the vehicle parts is not always clearly visible, for example through an embossed company logo. Instead, it is common for the parts to bear only the logo of the vehicle brand at the production site, while other components installed in the vehicle ex works bear the brand logo of the parts manufacturer in a clearly recognizable manner. For example, parts from the traditional German brand Bosch can be found in many cars today. Some vehicle manufacturers use Bilstein brand shock absorbers ex works, and some carmakers already install brake systems from brake specialist Brembo ex works. It is also becoming increasingly rare for the major automakers to develop and manufacture vehicle transmissions themselves. Manual or automatic transmissions from manufacturers such as Borg-Warner or the German supplier ZF are often installed in cars.

In which countries are OEM parts manufactured?

The production of OEM car parts takes place in different countries. Many European car brands still rely on consistent production in Europe for parts for their vehicles. This ensures compliance with high quality standards. In addition, the manufacturing conditions in the European plants comply with certain legal requirements. However, depending on the manufacturing site of a vehicle, the production locations of the parts may differ. Volkswagen, for example, relies on supplier parts such as seats from China for its models manufactured in mainland China. Mercedes-Benz also obtains the seats of a Mercedes manufactured in South Africa directly from the South African production of a supplier partner. Car buyers can often only determine the origin of the installed parts with luck. This requires an indication of origin on the component, which is not always available. On OEM parts as spare parts, the place of manufacture of the car part is sometimes indicated on the product packaging. An indication of the part manufacturer or manufacturing facility, on the other hand, are rarely common.

How do auto manufacturers work with OEM suppliers of auto parts?

Collaboration between automotive manufacturers and OEM suppliers takes place under defined standards. Often, the production of certain parts is put out to tender by the automakers. Numerous suppliers of vehicle parts can then apply for the tender. In addition to price or delivery capability, other principles are often decisive in the selection process. In addition to the expertise of the supplier, the quality of the brand or the reliability of the parts supplier can play a role. Car manufacturers depend on good manufacturing quality and regular availability of vehicle parts, and many carmakers today rely on close cooperation and good partnerships with suppliers. For example, automaker Mercedes holds an annual meeting with supplier partners. Known as the Mercedes-Benz Supplier Circle, one of the purposes of the event is to promote and deepen dialogue with partner companies.

How do OEM auto parts manufacturers comply with sustainability standards?

Sustainability in manufacturing is also playing an increasingly important role in the automotive sector. For many car buyers today, it is important that the car and its components are produced under sustainable standards. Today, sustainability in automotive production can certainly have an impact on the image of a brand or model. Manufacturers therefore often set their own sustainability standards that suppliers must meet. Even the foam of the seats or the leather at Audi or BMW are supposed to come from sustainably working suppliers. The standards for sustainability can be part of the tenders for the production of a car part. To ensure compliance with sustainability standards, automakers take various measures. For example, monitoring supply chains or regularly inspecting production on site can be effective ways of doing this.

How do OEM car part manufacturers ensure quality standards?

The high quality of all installed parts plays an important role in automotive manufacturing. Many of the components installed in cars are relevant to safety. Poor quality seat belts or airbags could pose a risk to the life and limb of vehicle occupants. In addition, faulty parts often lead to extensive recalls by car manufacturers. If vehicle models have to be recalled to workshops because of faulty parts, this quickly has a detrimental effect. The recalls not only cost high sums for the replacement of the faulty components by specialist workshops. The good reputation and image of the car brand are also often permanently damaged. The high quality standards for car parts are ensured by extensive measures. These include not only conscientious development of the parts but also regular inspections. As a rule, the suppliers and parts manufacturers themselves carry out ongoing quality tests in production. In addition, part quality control by the car manufacturers is common.

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