Illumination on vehicles is incredibly important, whether it’s to highlight a vehicle on the road or provide visibility to the driver. There are dozens of manufacturers in the automotive industry providing headlamps and lighting solutions, however, Hella is one of the most famous ones.
Even with a rich history and experience in the industry, many people still don’t know is Hella OEM or aftermarket.
In this article, we’ll cover Hella’s history, product line, and other information that will hopefully answer the question is Hella OEM or not.
Hella’s Product Line
Hella is a German automotive manufacturer mostly focusing on lighting solutions, automotive electronics, and systems.
Automotive lighting was Hella’s first business and it’s still its main field of expertise, however, Hella offers a much wider range of products today. Aside from the automotive industry, this company offers custom solutions for special vehicles.
Hella’s product line today consists of two main categories – innovative lighting systems, and electronics.
The main parts category that put Hella on the map includes products such as headlamps, rear lamps, interior lighting products, and car body lighting products. The electronics category includes products such as actuators, body electronics, driver assistance systems, electrical power steering components, energy management systems, as well as a variety of sensors and lighting electronics.
Hella’s History
Hella has one of the richest histories in the automotive field. The beginnings date back to 1899 when Sally Windmuller founded the Westfalische Metall-Industrie Aktien-Gesellschaft. The company was initially manufacturing ball horns, candles, and kerosene lamps for carriages. In a way, Hella is a part of the automotive lighting field and traffic safety since the beginning of the 1900s.
It wasn’t before 1951 that the company started expanding. At the time, their first subsidiary was founded in the town of Wembach, Germany. The beginning of the 1960s marked a significant period for Hella because it created an international distribution network. In 1961, Hella founded its first foreign production facility in Mentone, Australia.
Starting in the 1990s, Hella became a part of several joint ventures with several other suppliers in the automotive industry. At this time, Hella had more than 20,000 employees.
Today, Hella is present in 125 different locations, and 35 countries. The company also employs more than 7,500 people working in research and development alone.
Hella’s Core Values
Hella wouldn’t be as successful as it is today if it didn’t focus on its core values. Providing high-quality products and innovative solutions to its customers is the most important factor, however, taking care of its employees, customers, the environment, and growth also play a significant role in the success of any company, not only Hella.
Hella’s primary goal in business is client satisfaction. This is managed by continuously providing high-quality products and amazing customer service. Its dedication to client satisfaction has paid off with Hella providing high-quality components to some of the world’s leading car manufacturers.
Aside from focusing solely on the customers, Hella also focuses on protecting the environment. This is done by continuously innovating new products, technologies, and processes that increase environmental safety. One of the biggest challenges is Hella’s aim for CO2-neutral production across all manufacturing facilities by 2025. Also, all of Hella’s manufacturing facilities are certified according to the ISO 14001 standards.
Taking care of its employees is also one of the core values Hella strives for. Providing the ideal work-life balance and the opportunity for personal development is one of the things that make Hella one of the most sought-after employers around the globe.
Customers, employees, and the environment aren’t Hella’s only focus. The company also gives back to the community by supporting education and science. The manufacturing and sales locations are also carefully picked to support the local communities.
Is Hella OEM or Aftermarket?
It’s safe to say that Hella is both an OEM and aftermarket supplier. More than a dozen respectful car makers use Hella OEM parts, however, the aftermarket segment is also a very important one due to a large number of vehicles on the road. High-quality OEM and aftermarket replacement products are essential for road safety and comfort, and Hella is amongst the top choices any driver can make.
Today, car brands such as BMW, Audi, Volkswagen, and Mercedes use Hella OEM parts.