OEM vs OEE & Aftermarket Auto Glass - Windshield Surgeons Auto Glass

What is OEM Glass?

Original Equipment Manufacturer

OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer. This is the glass produced specifically for your vehicle by glass manufacturers contracted by your vehicle’s brand. OEM glass is directly sourced through your vehicle’s brand dealership and features the vehicle manufacturer’s logo. It’s often considered “official” and always carries a higher price tag.

Key Features of OEM Glass:

Branded with vehicle manufacturer logo
Theoretically identical to factory-installed glass
High price due to brand association
Backed by rigorous quality control (QC)

Warehouse housing Windshield Surgeons' replacement OEM equivalent auto glass

What is OEE Glass?

Original Equipment Equivalent

The term OEE (Original Equipment Equivalent) is not officially recognized industry-wide but has become commonly used to indicate aftermarket glass produced by the same trusted, high-quality manufacturers who supply OEM glass. At Windshield Surgeons Auto Glass, we source our glass from the world’s largest and most respected auto glass suppliers. These manufacturers create OEM glass for automotive brands but also sell their automotive replacement glass directly under their own names —without the OEM brand logos or the premium price.

Benefits of OEE Glass:

Same high-quality manufacturers as OEM glass
No vehicle brand logos, offering a lower price without a middle-man
Safety and structural integrity equivalent to OEM
Lower cost due to no brand-associated markup

Learn more about glass installation quality and safety here.

Close-up view of a freshly installed windshield at Windshield Surgeons Auto Glass

So, What’s Aftermarket Glass?

“Aftermarket” is an umbrella term that includes all replacement auto glass not sold and branded directly by the original vehicle manufacturer. Importantly, OEE glass is technically Aftermarket—but not all Aftermarket glass meets the high standards associated with the OEE label or DOT (department of transportation) guidelines.

While trusted global manufacturers produce OEE glass, there are smaller or less experienced Aftermarket manufacturers whose products may not meet rigorous quality and safety standards.

At Windshield Surgeons, we intentionally avoid using these unknown and potentially lower-quality options to ensure customer safety and satisfaction.

OEM vs. OEE Glass

Is There a Quality Difference?

When comparing OEM and OEE glass from the main global manufacturers, there’s essentially no difference in quality, safety, or durability. Both types undergo strict manufacturing processes. The only difference we’ve noticed between OEM and reputable OEE glass is the occasional level of quality control (QC) after production, which means a slightly higher chance of minor imperfections slipping through, like distortions in the glass or a crooked attachment. However, even OEM glass has these issues too (no quality control is perfect).

At Windshield Surgeons, you’re protected from manufacturer defects through our industry-leading warranty, ensuring peace of mind no matter which glass you choose.

Fun Fact: People are surprised when we sometimes open an OEM windshield box and reveal a windshield produced by the exact same manufacturer as we would have installed as OEE glass—minus the vehicle brand logo. As installers we can only laugh ironically and shrug our shoulders in such cases. Some people prefer paying a premium for the vehicle brand stamp, though in practice, it doesn’t affect the safety, or longevity of your windshield.

Windshield Surgeons Technician cleaning a freshly replaced windshield

What Do We Mean by Main Global Manufacturers?

Like most industries, the number of producers has fallen with time. This is because the weaker players get squeezed out by bigger companies who can purchase other smaller or failing businesses. The auto glass manufacturing landscape has continually consolidated to fewer and fewer substantial producers.

As it stands, there are only a handful of significant manufacturers of glass left. Many old glass brand names that some of us grew up hearing about, like PGW, don’t exist anymore or have been broken apart and sold in pieces. Long gone are the days of exclusively “North American”-produced brands (more on foreign vs domestic produced glass here).

The large manufacturers that remain produce glass for every single OEM brand. We know of no exceptions.

There are smaller upstart factories, but they face significant barriers to entry due to extremely high setup costs and the difficulty that producing modern advanced windshields presents. These startups also struggle because no reputable glass wholesaler or installation company will gamble with using an unknown quality product – we certainly don’t.

Factory production line with robotic arm systems handling windshield auto glass

Why Do Some People Online Say OEM is Better?

You may come across differing opinions online, with some suggesting OEM glass is better. The problem with phrases like “better” is that they are very subjective. What’s better for you is up to you. Here are some of the key considerations:

1

Misconceptions about Strength

Some mistakenly believe OEM glass is inherently stronger or more durable. Usually these are people who just had a windshield break and are frustrated. This is an understandable emotion in the moment but ultimately incorrect. When windows are produced by the same glass manufacturers at the same standard, resistance to damage isn’t somehow improved because of an OEM vehicle brand logo on it.

2

Insurance-driven Recommendations

Some auto glass providers and body shops that primarily work through insurance companies may prefer OEM glass because price isn’t a concern—insurance covers it, making it simpler to default to OEM.

3

What does “better” mean to you?

If you have an insurance company willing to cover the cost of OEM glass, and if it won’t increase your premiums, then maybe it is better for you to ask for OEM – because why not? For most people though, the much higher price tag is a deterrent without any significant benefit. For those paying direct, OEE is likely the “better” choice for dollar efficiency.

With decades of experience, we’ve seen every manufacturing flaw imaginable from all glass types, including occasional distortions or slightly misaligned attachments. Such defects, while rare, can occur with both OEM and OEE glass. The important fact for you as a consumer is that all the glass we sell is covered by our warranty, so you can rest assured that your replacement will be of the highest quality.

OEM vs OEE &
Aftermarket Auto Glass

What’s the Real Difference?