Import restrictions have limited stocks of Michelin’s passenger car tyres. The company passenger car tyres are currently available at its priority partners for the time being.

Refuting the news that Michelin passenger car tyres will be no longer available in India due to import restrictions, the company said, “The stories are not correct and misinterpreted one of our internal notes to the certain category of retailers in the country.”

In its communications with its Kay Dealer (KD) and Michelin Retailers (MR) channel partners, Michelin India had said, “The recent import restrictions on tyres in India has impacted our passenger car business by constraining supplies and restricting our sales. Due to this uncontrollable situation of license limiting our supplies, we regret to inform you that we will not be able to supply passenger car tyres to you until a further update from the government.”

The clarification, which Tyre Trends has received, said the note was for MR and KD retailers and the decision has been taken owing to the ongoing import restrictions for tyres.

Clarifying on that Michelin said, “For Michelin India, Government of India has recently issued a limited import license, which will also be utilised for importing passenger car tyres to address the very high demand for our tyres in a restricted manner for the time being.”

“Consequently, to streamline our supply chain in the current situation, Michelin India has decided to prioritise selling of these limited stocks only through its priority partners currently, who has equally invested in expanding our distribution footprint in the country.”

For the time being, passenger car tyres are available only at Michelin’s priority partners- TYREPLUS, Michelin Tyres and Services, and Michelin Tyres and Car Service.

To protect the domestic manufacturers, the government banned the imports of those tyre sizes which are not manufactured locally.

Michelin assured its channel partners that it would restart supplying passenger car tyres as soon as there is an improvement in the current situation and said, “We are confident that we will bounce back higher. We continue to work with the Government of India to address this issue and are hopeful of an early resolution.”

The company produces truck and bus tyres in its Chennai plant, while TVS Srichakra produces its two-wheeler tyres in its Madurai plant. The company also has an innovation hub in Pune. (MT) 

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Knorr-Bremse Systeme für Nutzfahrzeuge and Dutch company WAGH (WESP-Group) have established a joint venture, WESP CV, to develop digital services for the commercial vehicle industry.

The new entity headquartered in Germany will see Knorr-Bremse hold 51 percent stake, while WAGH will hold the remaining 49 percent.

WESP CV will focus on data-driven benchmarking for workshops. By comparing performance indicators, the venture aims to help companies identify operational efficiencies and use data to inform business decisions. The database created through this partnership is intended to provide transparency regarding market potential and product field data for workshops, distributors and industry partners.

The partnership seeks to address industry challenges, such as the shortage of skilled staff, by ensuring workshop employees can operate with higher efficiency through predictive maintenance solutions and integrated data ecosystems.

Alexander Wagner, Vice-President Global Aftermarket/TruckServices, Knorr-Bremse Commercial Vehicles, said, "The founding of WESP CV marks the next milestone toward a holistic and efficient commercial vehicle aftermarket ecosystem. The joint venture combines WESP's expertise in digital services for workshops with Knorr-Bremse's expertise in the commercial vehicle market. We want to support commercial vehicle workshops with data-based consulting services, helping them to identify operational efficiency potential, enable data-based decisions, and exploit previously untapped business opportunities or potential for improvement. This extensive database will not only support commercial vehicle workshops, but also other market participants and industry partners in gaining deeper transparency about market potential and product field data.”

Bas Wintjes, Managing Director, WAGH, said, “In the past months, we have consistently aligned our tools with the key KPIs of the truck, trailer and bus market. One thing has become clear: the fundamental principles remain the same – benchmarking against others enables workshops to achieve targeted improvements. In today’s environment, where it is becoming increasingly difficult to find skilled staff, it is more important than ever to ensure that workshop employees can work efficiently. Data-driven predictive maintenance solutions will play a central role in the future. Particularly valuable is the collaboration between manufacturers, distributors, and workshops: a strong data ecosystem gives all stakeholders the opportunity to measurably enhance their performance. The partnership with Knorr-Bremse is an important step in the further internationalization of WESP-Group. We look forward to combining Knorr-Bremse’s market expertise with our proven, practice-oriented tools.”

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Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) to set up vehicle service facilities at fuel retail outlets across India.

The partnership aims to integrate automotive maintenance with energy supply points to increase service accessibility for car owners.

As per the understanding, facilities at IOCL stations will offer routine maintenance, minor repairs and major services. This initiative expands Maruti Suzuki India’s existing network, which currently consists of 5,780 service touchpoints in 2,882 cities. Indian Oil operates a network of over 41,000 fuel stations nationwide, providing the infrastructure for the rollout.

Ram Suresh Akella, Executive Officer (Service), Maruti Suzuki India, said, “Our goal is to make car servicing as easy and convenient as possible for our customers. By partnering with Indian Oil Corporation Limited, one of India’s most trusted Maharatna enterprises, we will leverage their unmatched reach to take our after-sales service to locations frequently visited by our customers. This collaboration marks a significant step to bring mobility and energy sector together and deliver superior customer care experience. We are committed to enhance accessibility, deliver unmatched convenience, and ensure complete peace of mind in the car ownership journey for our customers.”

Saumitra P. Srivastava, Director (Marketing), Indian Oil Corporation, said, “Indian Oil is committed to enhancing the customer experience at our fuel stations through value-added services. With a network of over 41,000 fuel stations across the length and breadth of India, we are uniquely positioned to bring essential services closer to the consumer. By partnering with Maruti Suzuki, we are integrating world-class automotive maintenance along with our energy offerings.”

The collaboration represents a convergence of the mobility and energy sectors, intended to provide maintenance at locations already frequented by motorists for refueling.

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ACMA Automechanika New Delhi, the biennial automotive aftermarket component trade fair, is set to be held from 5^th February to 7^th February 2026 at Yashobhoomi (IICC), Dwarka.

The event in its biggest avatar is set to feature over 800 exhibitors from 19 countries, representing the largest edition of the fair to date.

The expansion follows an 8 percent growth in exports for India’s automotive components industry and a 6 percent growth in the domestic aftermarket for FY2025. Factors contributing to this growth include an ageing vehicle population and the formalisation of service networks. The exhibition will cover 50,000 gross square metres and showcase 3,000 brands, including 285 first-time participants.

The event spans several sectors:

• Components and Systems: Electronics, body parts and engine components.
• Repair and Maintenance: Diagnostics, service equipment and workshop tools.
• Accessories and Customisation: Car care, body and paint and lifestyle products.
• Emerging Technology: Solutions for new mobility and digital service channels.

ACMA Automechanika New Delhi will feature international pavilions from China, Germany, Iran, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka and Taiwan. Participating global brands include GMB, Horse Powertrain Solutions and Teknorot Otomotiv. A dedicated Workshop Pavilion will focus specifically on diagnostics and service equipment. Component makers from India such as Minda Corporation, Schaeffler India, SKF India and ZF India have also confirmed their participation.

Raj Manek, Executive Director and Board Member, Messe Frankfurt Asia Holdings, said, “I am very delighted by the fact that the show has received a very rich domestic and international participation and also the show has reflected the upward growth of India’s auto component sector. ACMA Automechanika New Delhi, which is a part of our global brand, has impressively posted a huge increase in new participants and is presenting a huge lineup of aftermarket solutions. All this is coming at a time when industry and government are simultaneously spearheading efforts to make India an auto powerhouse. We are confident of delivering a yet another amazing edition of the show.”

Vinnie Mehta, Director General, ACMA, said, “For ACMA, the event is not only about showcasing products, but about presenting India as a reliable partner for quality-driven, technology-led aftermarket solutions. With higher localisation, improving export capability and participation across MSMEs, Tier-1 suppliers and global brands, the aftermarket is steadily moving towards higher value and innovation.”

The fair will include knowledge programmes on 6 and 7 February, covering topics such as regulatory compliance, anti-counterfeiting, and workshop best practices. A leadership dialogue will specifically address the localisation of semiconductor power components for the electrification of two-wheelers and three-wheelers in India.

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THINK Gas, one of the leading players in city gas distribution business (CGD) has commenced the implementation of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board’s (PNGRB) National Drive 2.0.

The campaign, inaugurated by Dr Anil Kumar Jain, Chairperson of PNGRB, aims to expand the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) station network across 10 states.

THINK Gas, the merged entity of AG&P Pratham and THINK Gas, is a leading player in India’s City Gas Distribution (CGD) business. It has 19 CGD licenses awarded by the Petroleum & Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) under the aegis of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) to exclusively develop CGD infrastructure and provide natural gas across 49 Districts in the 10 states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

The initiative aligns with the ‘One Nation, One Grid, One Tariff’ framework, which seeks to standardise gas access.

Dr Anil Kumar Jain, Chairperson, PNGRB, said, “National Drive 2.0 is a focused initiative of PNGRB to deepen the reach of City Gas Distribution networks and accelerate the adoption of PNG and CNG across the country. The Unified Tariff framework is enhancing affordability, transparency, and access, ensuring that regulatory reforms translate into direct consumer benefits. THINK Gas has exemplified this vision by investing over INR 5.1 billion in the Barmer–Jodhpur–Jaisalmer Geographical Area and adopting a unique LCNG-based hybrid supply model to ensure uninterrupted gas supply even in the absence of pipeline connectivity.”

Amitava Sengupta, Chairman, THINK Gas, said, “PNGRB’s National Drive 2.0 is a landmark initiative that will play a pivotal role in accelerating the adoption of PNG and CNG across India. This drive comes close on the heels of the implementation of landmark tariff reforms by the PNGRB when Domestic PNG and CNG segments will benefit from a preferential tariff system.”

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