If you own or service a BYD, GWM, Haval, Chery or Jetour in South Africa, you’ve probably run into this question sooner or later: should you fit an OEM part, or is a quality aftermarket part good enough? It’s one of the most common questions we get from workshops, fleet managers and individual owners — and the honest answer is: it depends, but not for the reasons most people assume.
Why this question comes up so often with Chinese car brands
BYD, GWM, Haval, Chery and Jetour have grown fast in South Africa over the past few years, but the local parts supply chain is still catching up. Official dealer parts can take weeks to arrive and often carry a premium, while the aftermarket landscape is newer and less standardised than it is for brands that have been here for decades. That gap is exactly where good and bad information both spread — so it’s worth being precise about what each term actually means.
What “OEM-grade” actually means
“OEM” stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer — the part is made to the exact spec the vehicle manufacturer designed for that model, whether it comes from the manufacturer’s own supply chain or a certified factory producing to the same tolerances. OEM-grade parts are the safest default when you need a guaranteed fit and guaranteed performance, particularly for safety-critical components like brakes and suspension.
What “aftermarket” actually means — and why not all aftermarket is equal
Aftermarket simply means a part made by a company other than the original vehicle manufacturer. That’s it — the term itself says nothing about quality. Aftermarket parts range from excellent (built to match or exceed OEM tolerances, sometimes by the very same factories) to poor (cheap castings, wrong metallurgy, inconsistent batches). The mistake we see most often is buyers treating “aftermarket” as a single quality tier, when in reality the spread within aftermarket is much wider than the gap between OEM and good aftermarket.
The only way to actually know which end of that spread you’re getting is to buy from a supplier that’s upfront about sourcing and doesn’t blur the line between the two — which is the whole reason we label every part on our site as either OEM-grade or quality aftermarket, never just “compatible.”
How fitment verification removes the guesswork
Even a genuinely good part is useless if it’s the wrong variant for your vehicle. Chinese car brands have expanded their model line-ups quickly in South Africa, and mid-cycle spec changes (a different suspension tune, a facelift electrical harness, a running change to a bracket) are common. That’s why every part we supply is cross-referenced against the customer’s exact model, year and variant before an order is confirmed — not after the part has already been shipped and the customer discovers it doesn’t fit.
Price vs risk: how to decide for your workshop or fleet
For trade buyers, this usually comes down to a simple trade-off:
- Safety-critical parts (brakes, suspension, steering) — most workshops default to OEM-grade unless a specific aftermarket brand has a proven track record.
- Wear-and-tear parts (filters, cabin air filters, light bulbs, service kit consumables) — quality aftermarket is usually the better economic choice, since the failure mode is low-risk and the cost difference adds up across a fleet.
- Electrical and sensor parts — worth checking case by case, since compatibility issues here tend to be about software/protocol matching rather than raw material quality.
The right call is rarely “always OEM” or “always aftermarket” — it’s matching the part category to how much risk you’re willing to carry if it’s slightly wrong.
A quick note on each brand’s parts landscape in South Africa
- BYD (Atto 3, Seal, Dolphin, Han, Tang) — EV and hybrid-specific components (battery cooling, high-voltage wiring) are still best sourced OEM-grade; mechanical wear parts have a growing aftermarket already.
- GWM (P-Series, Poer, Ora 03) — one of the longer-established Chinese brands locally, so aftermarket coverage for common wear parts is relatively mature.
- Haval (H6, Jolion, H9, Raptor, H2) — high local sales volume means good aftermarket availability for the popular models, particularly H6 and Jolion.
- Chery, Omoda & Jaecoo (Tiggo 4/7/8 Pro, Omoda 5, Omoda 7, Jaecoo 7) — newer sub-brands (Omoda, Jaecoo) still lean more heavily on OEM-grade supply until aftermarket volume catches up.
- Jetour (X70, X90, Dashing, T2) — one of the newer entrants, so expect OEM-grade to be the more readily available option for now on less common parts.
How to order from OneLine
We currently supply on a B2B basis — workshops, independent fitment centres and fleet operators across South Africa. Every part is fitment-verified before an order is confirmed, and we’ll always tell you upfront whether a listing is OEM-grade or quality aftermarket so you can make the call that’s right for the job. Message us on WhatsApp with your vehicle details and the part you need.
Frequently asked questions
Is OEM always better than aftermarket?
Not necessarily. OEM guarantees exact spec, but a quality aftermarket part in a low-risk category (like a cabin filter) can perform identically for a lower price. The category of part matters more than a blanket rule.
How long does it take to get parts for Chinese car brands in South Africa?
It varies by part and model — this is exactly why fitment verification happens before dispatch, so you get an accurate answer for your specific vehicle rather than a generic estimate.
Do OneLine’s parts come with any guarantee?
We’re upfront about whether each part is OEM-grade or quality aftermarket before you order, and every part is checked against your vehicle’s year, model and variant so what arrives is what fits. For specific warranty terms on a part, message us on WhatsApp before ordering.