Buying Guides
Preparing a Parts List for a Wholesale RFQ
How to structure an auto parts list for a wholesale RFQ: the columns to include, how to present OEM numbers, quantities, brand and tier preferences, packaging and Incoterms.
5 min read
Echo Autoparts knowledge center
Automotive Parts Guides
Buying, specification and export guides for parts importers and distributors: identifying parts by OEM number, battery and tire sizes, truck parts and shipping from Thailand.
39 guides
Buying Guides
Practical sourcing guidance for importers and distributors: part quality tiers, RFQ preparation and how to specify what you need.
Buying Guides
OEM vs OES vs Aftermarket Auto Parts
Clear definitions of genuine OEM, OES and aftermarket auto parts, how the terms are misused, and how to choose the right quality tier by category, application and market.
5 min read
Vehicle Guides
Model- and generation-level parts guidance for high-volume pickups, SUVs and vans, including identification and interchange checks.
Vehicle Guides
How to Identify Toyota Hilux Parts by OEM Number
How Toyota part numbers are structured, where to find them, and how to use OEM numbers, model codes and VINs to source the right Hilux parts across generations.
5 min read
Battery Guides
Battery size codes, technologies and selection criteria for automotive, pickup, truck and bus applications.
Battery Guides
Deep Cycle Battery Guide
How deep cycle batteries differ from starting batteries, depth of discharge and cycle life, capacity at C5, C10, C20 and C100 rates, and 6 V, 8 V and 12 V packs for golf carts, solar and marine use.
7 min read
Battery Guides
Forklift Traction Battery Guide
Traction battery basics for forklifts: 2 V cells and system voltage, C5 capacity, PzS/PzB/PzV cells, tray size and counterweight, REMA and SB connectors, charging, and what to send in an RFQ.
9 min read
Battery Guides
EV and Hybrid 12 V Auxiliary Battery Guide
The role of the 12 V auxiliary battery in BEV, HEV and PHEV vehicles, the technologies used, venting for in-cabin and boot installations, and what to check when replacing one.
7 min read
Battery Guides
Battery Terminal Layout Guide
How JIS L/R codes, European layouts 0, 1, 3 and 4 and the JIS (S) suffix describe terminal position and post size, and why a reversed layout is a supply error.
6 min read
Battery Guides
How to Select a Battery by Ah and CCA
What 20-hour capacity, cold cranking amps and reserve capacity mean under SAE J537, EN 50342-1 and JIS D 5301, and why ratings from different standards cannot be compared directly.
7 min read
Battery Guides
EFB vs Standard Flooded Batteries
How an Enhanced Flooded Battery differs from a standard flooded starter battery in construction and testing, when start-stop vehicles require EFB, and what to specify when replacing one.
7 min read
Battery Guides
N-Series Truck Battery Codes: N50 to N200
What N50, N70, N100, N120, N150, N200, NS40 and NS60 battery codes mean, how they map to JIS D, E, F, G and H cases, and how they are used in 24 V truck systems.
6 min read
Battery Guides
DIN and EN Battery Sizes: LN and LBN Guide
European starter battery sizes LN0 to LN6 and LBN1 to LBN5, B13 bottom hold-downs, terminal layouts 0 and 1, and how DIN and ETN battery numbers are built.
8 min read
Battery Guides
JIS Battery Size Codes Explained
How to decode JIS D 5301 battery codes such as 55B24L, 95D31R and 245H52: performance rank, case group, length, terminal position, the (S) suffix and idling-stop codes.
7 min read
Battery Guides
Truck Battery Selection Guide
How to select batteries for trucks and buses: 12 V and 24 V systems, series and parallel wiring, JIS, N-series, DIN and BCI sizes, cranking performance, climate and dry-charged supply.
5 min read
Battery Guides
EFB vs AGM Batteries
How Enhanced Flooded Batteries and Absorbent Glass Mat batteries differ in construction, charging behavior, heat tolerance and application, and why start-stop vehicles must not be downgraded.
5 min read
Battery Guides
JIS vs DIN Automotive Batteries
The practical differences between JIS and DIN/EN batteries: case dimensions, terminal posts, hold-down design, performance ratings and when one can substitute for the other.
4 min read
Battery Guides
How Automotive Battery Sizes Work
How to read JIS battery codes such as 55B24L, N-series designations such as N70 and N150, and European DIN/EN codes, and what each code does and does not tell a buyer.
5 min read
Truck Parts Guides
Maintenance and wear-parts guidance for light, medium and heavy trucks used in fleet and distribution operations.
Truck Parts Guides
Truck Parts Guide: Air Brakes and Chassis Parts
Commercial-vehicle components for Japanese trucks, how series and chassis codes change the part, and what fleets and distributors should specify.
10 min read
Truck Parts Guides
Hino 500 Maintenance Parts Guide
A guide to the service and wear parts that keep Hino 500 medium trucks running, organized by system, with the specification details buyers need to order correctly.
5 min read
Truck Parts Guides
Isuzu NPR Parts Buying Guide
What importers and fleet buyers need to specify when sourcing Isuzu NPR light truck parts: engine variants, electrical system voltage, brakes, chassis wear parts and tires.
4 min read
Product Guides
How product categories are specified and sized, from tire size markings to filter and brake part identification.
Product Guides
Wholesale Tire Buying Guide: Sizes and Load Ratings
Passenger, pickup, light-truck and truck/bus tire categories, load and speed ratings, and how tire orders are planned by container.
19 min read
Product Guides
Motorcycle Parts Buying Guide
Motorcycle service, drive, brake and electrical parts for the models common in Asian, African and Latin American markets.
6 min read
Product Guides
Glass & Body Parts Guide
Body panels, lamps, mirrors and automotive glass: generation and trim identification, packaging and shipping considerations.
4 min read
Product Guides
Bearings & Belts Buying Guide
Wheel bearings, hub assemblies, timing and accessory belts, tensioners and pulleys: identification, dimensions and replacement planning.
10 min read
Product Guides
Automotive Electrical Parts Guide
How to identify electrical parts by connector, voltage and part number, and what to check for sensors, rotating electrics and ignition parts.
15 min read
Product Guides
Cooling System Parts Guide: Radiators, Water Pumps
Radiator and condenser construction, water pumps, thermostats and fans, with the specifications and quality points buyers should confirm.
12 min read
Product Guides
Clutch & Driveline Parts Guide
Clutch kits, flywheels, hydraulics, drive shafts and gearbox parts: how they are specified and what to check before ordering.
11 min read
Product Guides
Engine Parts Buying Guide: Gaskets, Pistons, Timing
Engine component groups, the engine codes and dimensions that decide fitment, overhaul-kit planning and quality checks for engine parts.
15 min read
Product Guides
Suspension & Steering Parts Guide
Suspension layouts, position and drive-side differences, component types from shocks to steering racks, and a buyer's specification checklist.
17 min read
Product Guides
Brake Parts Buying Guide: Pads, Discs and Shoes
Brake component types, the dimensions and friction grades that matter, quality checks and how to specify brake lines for export orders.
14 min read
Product Guides
Automotive Filters Guide: Types and Specifications
How oil, fuel, air, cabin and hydraulic filters differ, which specifications decide interchangeability, and how to prepare a filter enquiry.
19 min read
Product Guides
How to Read Tire Sizes for Pickup, Light Truck and Truck/Bus Tires
How to read metric, LT, flotation, commercial C-type and truck/bus tire size markings, including load index, speed symbol, ply rating, tube-type and tubeless sizes and date codes.
5 min read
Export Guides
Export documentation, Incoterms, container planning and destination compliance for auto parts shipped from Thailand.
Export Guides
Which Incoterm to Use for Auto Parts Orders from Thailand
Choosing between FCA, FOB, CFR, CIF and other Incoterms 2020 rules for auto parts shipments from Thailand: forwarders, mixed and LCL cargo, batteries, letters of credit, insurance and destination charges.
5 min read
Export Guides
Thailand Battery Export Guide
How to source batteries from Thailand for export: specification checks on manufacturers' export ranges, battery freshness, HS codes, certificates of origin, SDS, dangerous goods and mixed containers.
10 min read
Export Guides
How to Ship Batteries Internationally
Dangerous goods rules for exporting batteries: UN 2794, UN 2800 and special provision 238, lithium-ion UN 3480/3481, sodium-ion UN 3551/3552, IMDG vs IATA, packing and documents.
9 min read
Export Guides
Thailand Automotive Parts Export Guide
What importers should know when buying auto parts from Thailand: ports, Incoterms 2020, export documents, certificates of origin, HS codes and destination conformity programs.
6 min read
Export Guides
How to Order Mixed Auto Parts Containers from Thailand
A step-by-step guide to planning a mixed auto parts container from Thailand: building the parts list, consolidation, container selection, loading constraints, documents and Incoterms.
7 min read
4x4 Guides
Parts and interchange guidance for one-ton pickups and 4x4 vehicles built and sold across ASEAN and export markets.
4x4 Guides
Pickup & 4x4 Accessories Guide
Canopies, roller lids, bull bars, side steps and off-road equipment: cab and bed variants, fitting hardware and export packaging.
18 min read
4x4 Guides
Guide to Isuzu D-Max Replacement Parts
An importer's guide to Isuzu D-Max replacement parts across three generations: engine families, high-demand service and wear categories, and how to identify parts correctly.
5 min read
4x4 Guides
Toyota Hilux Vigo vs Revo Parts Compatibility
Which parts differ between the Hilux Vigo and Hilux Revo, where carry-over is possible, and how distributors should verify interchange before stocking either generation.
5 min read