In Talk | Why Aftermarket Oxygen Sensor Can be an ideal product Line for Auto Parts Shop?
Why Aftermarket Oxygen Sensor Can be an ideal product Line for Auto Parts Shop?
What is Oxygen Sensor?
About oxygen sensor for automotive is also known as O2 sensor and lambda sensor, it is a replacement part around the engine room and exhaust system. It monitors the exhaust content and feedbacks the reading to ECU (engine control unit) to make precious action toward fuel injection, which directly influences the fuel economy of the vehicle. The general lifespan of oxygen sensors is around 60,000 to 90,000 miles, it needs to be replaced about every 5 years under daily usage.
What is the market?
According to the online statistics, there are over 3 million vehicles were sold in 2020 (US). Although it is dropping compared with the pasted years, it did not affect the demand for oxygen sensors. As we mentioned, O2 sensor is a replacement part that needs to replace every few years. This means its market range extended to all used cars are included. Additionally, it can be considered that oxygen sensor replacement is mandatory due to it is one of the critical components that concerns the most during annual emission tests and tab updates.
How is it ideal?
When it comes to auto parts, it is generally complex and specific. But with oxygen sensor, it can be easy and simple. Oxygen sensors have only a couple of specs indifference. The basics of oxygen sensors are their connecting module, wire length, pairing method, and internal specification.
Universals
The most popular type of O2 sensor is the universals. The universal type of oxygen sensor is products without connectors. The operator installed the sensor with raw wire and connected it with the previous onboard sensor’s connector. The only caution will be helping the customer to get the right internal specification sensor for their vehicles and there are only a few internal specifications on the market. It is also a cost-effective and price-friendly option for the consumer to choose. As a result, the oxygen sensor will not be an absolute slow mover in the overall product line.
Inventories
In General, auto parts took up considerably large spaces for stocking. There are base two factors: large in mass and various amount of part number. With oxygen sensors, the installation slots are identical, which is an M18 thread size. It is not an exact specific auto part that concerns exact fits. According to all oxygen sensor suppliers, the interchange table can be very favorable. Single part number of oxygen sensor can be applied on over multiple vehicles across different years that is made and models of their product line. This helps auto parts shops lower the overall stocking and still reach out to a variety of demands. Additionally, oxygen sensor is relatively small compared to other auto parts, which is also favorable for storage concerns.
Competitiveness
There are two types of auto parts in general, OEM (original equipped manufacture) and aftermarket. The even depth speaking will be OE specification and OEM. With an O2 sensor, the most important element is its internal specification. It affects the functionality, which is why the vehicle needed to have oxygen sensors replace in the first place. With aftermarket products that can achieve the same functionality, it provides end users a more price-friendly option to choose from when the O2 sensor needed to be replaced.
OE –
About OE specification, it usually sorts via the OE number as the vehicle displayed and manufactured exactly like the original equipped in the vehicle, which generally purchases through the automotive dealership and their maintenance department.
OEM –
With OEM, it is originally equipped manufacture. It means when the vehicle was built, the vehicle company have a designated manufacturer to produce the parts. Afterward, OEM consolidates the proximately interchangeable specifications and produced the parts with their brand, and establishes the product line via the brand part number.
Aftermarket –
Aftermarket O2 sensor is manufactured via other companies that also developed O2 sensors’ core ceramic element. The difference among different manufacturers will be how specific they consolidate the product line and quality controls. For example, material use can affect temperature tolerance, certain accessories like wire secure straps are included or replaced with universal accessories and extended wire length for consolidating some multiple specifications but different wire lengths.
Conclusion
In conclusion, an oxygen sensor is an auto part that has demands due to the regional emission standard requirement. It is not as complex as other auto parts. with the advantage of its interchangeability. Minimum of the various specification can cover a variety of applications. it can lower the stocking and space requirement compared with other auto parts. With Aftermarket O2 sensor, it has the advantage in pricing. It is more cost-effective for both supplier and end-user.
