New figures released by international technical information specialist IHS shows that Sogefi components are in nine of the top ten selling cars in the UK. Comparable figures for the European market shows that Sogefi components are original on eight of the top ten cars.

Top selling cars fitted with Sogefi components as standard includes the Ford Fiesta and Focus, the Opel Corsa and Astra, the Nissan Qashqai, Ford Transit and the BMW 1 and 3 series. On the two top selling Fords, Sogefi supplies the diesel module, manifold, turbo inlet, thermostat housing and rear coil springs, with the Focus also getting Sogefi front coils.

Adding to its impressive OE credentials, Sogefi has recently secured a significant contract as the supplier of oil filters for Europe's fourth bestselling vehicle last year, the Volkswagen Polo. This spin-on filter has been supplied to Polo models from April 2014 onwards on the new Euro 6 compliant 1.4 litre 3 cylinder, turbo charged, direct injection diesel engine. It is anticipated this will create follow-on demand for the company’s aftermarket filter brands Fram®, CoopersFiaam and Purflux.

The success of Sogefi with European car makers reflects its deep and ongoing commitment to innovation and research and development. This commitment was underlined recently by the signing of a new collaborative agreement between the company and the Politecnico di Milano, one of the world's most prestigious technical universities, to engage in joint research and development initiatives in the automotive sector over the next three years. This will focus on materials, processes, design and testing of engine systems and suspension components.

Andrea Taschini, General Manager of Sogefi's Aftermarket Business Unit, comments, "Innovation in the car sector, starting from reducing weight and improving the efficiency of vehicles, now depends significantly on the components companies. Sogefi in particular is increasing its investment in research and development, which has gone up in recent years from around 2% to just under 3% of total revenue." He adds, “The value of our focus on R&D is by no means confined to original equipment customers, but equally extends to all aftermarket customers who enjoy access to products featuring identical technologies and specifications through Sogefi's aftermarket brands – Purflux, CoopersFiaam, and Fram®.

As part of its commitment to communicating the benefits of OE quality to customers, Sogefi is a founding member of OESAA (the Original Equipment Suppliers Aftermarket Association). OESAA aims to increase garage awareness of the key differences between genuine OE parts and ‘matching quality’ parts, to help ensure professional repairs and enhance motorist’s understanding of component quality.