Understanding the Aftermarket If you use parts or accessories for your products that are not from the original equipment manufacturer (OEM), but instead from third party suppliers, then they are known as aftermarket products. You may choose them for a variety of reasons, from price or quality to availability, and whether you are fixing an issue, modifying, upgrading or replacing a part, from a custom wheelset or performance exhaust to an upgraded brake system or IoT integration, if the parts come from someone other than the OEM, they are aftermarket. What Does Aftermarket Mean Simply put, if you use parts or components from someone other than the original manufacturer to repair, upgrade or modify something, they are thought of as aftermarket parts. Aftermarket Auto Parts While the term aftermarket can apply to products of all kinds, it is most commonly associated with the automotive industry. You can find aftermarket parts for almost any component you can think of in your car, from wheels to body panels, braking systems to infotainment. Whether you are adding tinted windows to change how your car looks, or a larger turbo to improve performance, or even just using non-OEM parts for servicing your brakes, aftermarket parts can often allow for significant savings while matching or exceeding the original manufacturer part for quality. Automotive Aftermarket From manufacturer to distributors, retailers to installers, the automotive aftermarket is a vast business with almost endless options for you to use on your car. Whether modifying or servicing, whatever you need, there is someone out there making it. The important thing is that aftermarket parts and products give you choices as a vehicle owner. As cars themselves become more expensive, and the OEM parts do too, aftermarket options let you maintain the safety and quality of your vehicle at a more affordable price, or take your vehicle way beyond its original design in ways the manufacturer never dreamed of. Conclusion Aftermarket is not something that is ‘less’ than OEM, it is a different option, often better quality, and sometimes just impossible to get from the original manufacturer at all. It is an essential part of the automotive industry, providing both more affordable solutions and new options for your vehicle, whatever it might be. From basic maintenance to complete custom modifications, aftermarket products give you endless choice to make your vehicle exactly what you want it to be.
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