Glossary · Letter O
OEM vs Aftermarket
OEM parts are made by or for the vehicle's original manufacturer; aftermarket parts are made by others to fit the same application.
Definition
OEM vs Aftermarket
- OEM vs Aftermarket
- An OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) part is one made by — or made for — the vehicle's original manufacturer to the manufacturer's specification. An aftermarket part is one made by another supplier to fit the same application, often at a different price point and not always to the same specification. Used parts removed from end-of-life vehicles are by definition OEM parts: they came off a vehicle that left the factory with them fitted. This is a meaningful credibility argument for the dismantling industry — a used OEM headlight is exactly the part the vehicle was built with, recovered rather than replicated. Sustain360's catalogue surfaces OEM identifiers (part numbers, suppliers, fitment) against every part where they are known, populated at intake from VIN decoding and from operator entry on the binning station. The same metadata drives compatibility group expansion across channels so buyers searching for a specific OEM number find a match against the right used part on the shelf.
Related vocabulary
Related terms
- Compatibility GroupA grouping of vehicle models that share a given part — the basis of fitment.
- Part Grading (A / B / C)A consistent rubric for the condition of a used part — A perfect, B serviceable, C usable with defects.
- Core ChargeA refundable deposit paid against a rebuildable part, returned when the old unit is sent back.
In the product