Comparison of Aftermarket and OEM Development Cycles

Traditionally new technologies are delivered into the automotive industry through the aftermarket. The shorter development cycle of an aftermarket product, which can be less than half of an equivalent OEM part, is the primary enabler of earlier introduction.

Aftermarket development lead-times can be less than one year. However, an OEM electronic device will typically be subjected to rigid bench and in-vehicle testing that contribute to a development time of over two years.

This article will explore some of these development cycle differences and the challenges in delivering new technologies to the OEM market.