INA is one of the most reputable brands in the automotive market. With a rich history and a massive catalog of products, this brand has become one of the authorities in the industry. In this article we’ll talk about INA, its roots, product line, quality control, and other information that will provide the answer to the question is INA OEM or not.
INA’s Story
INA has been part of the automotive industry for more than 75 years. It was founded in 1946 by the Schaeffler brothers, Wilhelm and Georg. In 2003 INA and two other brands initiated the Schaeffler Group. Today, the group has more than 65,000 employees with more than 30,000 people working for the INA brand alone. INA also has 39 manufacturing facilities spread across the globe.
INA’s big break happened when it started supplying low-wear needle roller bearings for transmissions to Volkswagen in 1952. A few years later, the Citroën DS 19 was released, and it was incredibly popular due to its futuristic design. It had a serious transmission flaw on the track caused by plain bearings, which INA solved with its cage-guided needle roller bearings.
Aside from Volkswagen and Citroën, INA started supplying one of the best-known car manufacturers with zero-maintenance hydraulic chain tensioners — Porsche. The model in question was the Porsche 959 which was the fastest production road vehicle at the time with a top speed of more than 300 km/h.
In 2008, Schaeffler Group acquired Continental AG, however, just three years later, it sold almost 15% shares, reducing its stake to 60.3%. Today, Schaeffler Group’s stake in Continental AG is 46%.
INA’s Product Range
INA is known for manufacturing roller bearings, engine components, plain bearings, and precision components.
INA’s product range includes drive belt components such as mechanical and hydraulic tensioners for auxiliary drives and timing belts, timing belt tensioner pulleys, idler pulleys, as well as overrunning alternator pulleys.
They also make chain components such as timing chain tensioners. INA is known for gearbox components such as needle roller bearings, synchronizer rings, tapered roller bearings, torque converters, and selection mechanisms
Their engine lineup features components such as hydraulic valve lifters, mechanical valve lifters, rocker arms, adjusting washers, and variable valve timing units.
All these parts are essential components that allow the engine to operate properly and at its full potential. INA provides high-quality solutions to the automotive market, and no matter which part you choose from INA, you’ll be getting a good value for your money. With 39 manufacturing facilities and one of the largest distribution networks
Is INA OEM or Aftermarket?
INA, as one of the most significant parts manufacturers in the automotive market, supplies many OEMs and the automotive aftermarket. This answers the question is INA OEM or not, but opens up many other questions, such as who are its main buyers, and which markets INA focuses on.
INA has expanded its business operation across three main continents — Asia, Europe, and North America. Currently, INA manufactures parts that cover most of the automotive market. The aftermarket segment is much wider than the OEM, but both are equally important for the brand.
One of the major downsides to offering such a wide catalog and recognizable quality is that there are many counterfeits on the market. This is why it’s important to use trustworthy and reputable sources when buying INA products, but also to check the packaging and product itself before making the final purchase. This mainly includes checking the codes and printing on the packaging.
Which Car Brands Is INA OEM For?
There are many leading car manufacturers that recognize INA’s quality and dedication to its customers. So far, many European car brands use INA parts as OEM, some of which include Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Volkswagen, Renault, Peugeot, and Opel. INA also acquired a certificate from Toyota which is issued only to the highest-quality suppliers in the automotive industry.
The aftermarket segment, on the other hand, covers a much wider range of car brands such as Honda, Toyota, Mazda, Chevrolet, BMW, and many more car manufacturers from Europe, Asia, and North America.