Consumers will be able to buy OE parts online more easily following the launch of Glovebox Direct.

Glovebox Direct has developed a new online parts buying solution, selling manufacturer branded parts on behalf of seven marques - Toyota, Nissan, Lexus, Suzuki, Peugeot, Citroen and Renault - with more scheduled to join throughout the year.

Glovebox Direct’s co-founder Joe Tarragano has said that online retail for automotive parts hasn’t “exploded” due to unreliable e-commerce.

He said: “Existing online solutions do not partner with the vehicle manufacturers and so cause two big problems for consumers: they don’t offer the full range of parts a consumer needs, and they can’t use manufacturers own technical databases.

"By combining our technology with the car manufacturer’s data, we enable consumers to get it 100% right.”

Tarragano said that automotive online retail has “lagged” far behind due to technical issues finding the right parts and consumer fears about buying poor quality fakes.

“The industry has relied on consumers contacting a dealership’s parts department, where a parts manager with encyclopedic knowledge, handed down over generations, figures it out for the consumer,” said Tarragano.

“But that doesn’t work for modern consumers. Making it work online is all about data and technology coming together and enabling consumers to self-serve.

“E-commerce giants fulfill orders quickly from huge warehouses that stock the most popular products.

"But automotive is very different, because a warehouse would need to store millions of slow-moving parts across multiple manufacturers, models, ages and specifications.

“So only by partnering with manufacturers can you access their full range, as the part you want may not even be in the country.

"With these partnerships and leveraging modern technology, Glovebox Direct has solved this issue and makes finding and buying parts as simple as buying a book.”