What Is OE?
OE stands for **Original Equipment** — the parts and systems installed on a vehicle when it is built at the factory, such as the engine, braking system, and headlights.
These parts are produced to the vehicle manufacturer’s specifications. The company that makes them is called an **OE supplier**. An OE supplier builds a component exactly as the car maker requires, so it is ready to install on a new vehicle. It supplies parts for the original build; it does not assemble or market the complete vehicle.
Related terms are **OE parts** — replacement components from the same supplier, sold under the supplier’s own brand — and **OE numbers**, the manufacturer’s reference numbers that identify these parts.
