MT Bureau
Rico Auto Industries Limited, the aftermarket division of the leading integrated supplier of automotive components and assemblies, has introduced a new spoof-proof packaging to contain spurious parts. The company that is involved right from design and development in making dies and moulds, manufactures automotive components in ferrous and aluminium machined castings. In 2017 it entered the aftermarket. Spurious products with almost look alike packaging are costing companies a great deal of money and goodwill.
“We have developed a brand new packaging with a phylogenic effect on the whole box but not on the product. Once the box is opened the consumer can ask the retailer to prove the authenticity by putting a screen on the open Lid of the box. Before retailers use to refuse to open the box as there is a barcode on each box that gets distorted by opening the box, but now there are several measures on the box itself to prove the originality of the product,” Abhishek Kulshrestha, Vice President, Rico Auto Industries, said.
After the introduction of GST in July 2017 Rico was confident about a fair playing field and introduced nine new products. Sales increased from INR 100 million to INR 250 million in about 18 months. The company hopes to close 2019-20 fiscal year at around INR 400-500 million despite the slowdown. On the reason that compelled Rico to go for such a packaging he said, “Our market research made us realize that there are many spurious products in the market with the same brand name; this led us to develop a new spoof-proof packaging for our products.”
“We have a policy of launching new product every quarter either for two-wheelers, three-Wheelers or four-wheelers. This quarter we are launching paper plate & paper clutch assemblies for two-wheelers, next quarter we will be launching a product for four-wheelers and till next FY we are also planning to launch a few products for the commercial vehicles market as well. This modus operandi of launching a new product every quarter has added well to our inventory. As of today we have over 500 products for two-wheelers, 100-plus products for four-wheelers, and over 75 products for three-wheelers,” he said.
Rico will be conducting awareness campaigns throughout the country among the mechanics and distributors. Earlier there were hardly any safety features on the box to differentiate between spurious and original products. “Now there are phylogenic effects on the box, newly developed design screen recognition method and on top of it we have developed an all-new QR code method to safeguard the interest of distributors as well. This gives confidence to our distributors in being the only distributor of ‘Original’ Rico products in their territory,” Kulshrestha said.
Rico is optimistic about the increasing share in the components aftermarket estimated to grow to INR 800 billion by 2025. “This growing aftermarket will help our market share as well. We are growing every year and we expect to reach a turnover of INR 1 billion by the next financial year,” he said.
About the short term and long term plans of Rico, Kulshrestha said, “Our short-term plan is to grow gradually in the market and explore new ideas to increase our sales. We are already running a boost initiative programme for our distributors to encourage them. The response is overwhelming even in the phase of an economic slowdown, if we talk about a long-term plan the vision is as clean as a windscreen, we tend to take Rico Auto Industry - After Market division to the new heights and on a successful path of becoming the pioneers in the industry.” (MT)
- Toyota Kirloskar Sundaram Automotive Solutions
- TSERV Select
- Kirloskar Systems
- Trichur Sundaram Santhanam Family
- TSSF Group
- Toyota Kirloskar Motor
- Rajesh Menon
- Geetanjali Kirloskar
- Srivats Ram
- Tadashi Asazuma
Toyota Kirloskar Sundaram Automotive Solutions Launches TSERV Select Multi-Brand Outlet In Bengaluru
- By MT Bureau
- February 02, 2026
Toyota Kirloskar Sundaram Automotive Solutions has inaugurated its first ‘TSERV Select’ multi-brand service outlet in KR Puram, Bengaluru. The company is a joint venture between Kirloskar Systems, the Trichur Sundaram Santhanam Family (TSSF Group) and Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM).
The JV targets the growing demand for organised and transparent vehicle maintenance in India's automotive market. The outlet features diagnostic tools and a workforce trained to provide services for vehicles of all brands.
The company has appointed Rajesh Menon as its President, who comes with over 35 years of experience in the automobile sector. He will oversee the development of a service network intended for various Indian cities.
In addition to the company-owned TSERV Select format, the business operates a network of 150 third-party multi-brand outlets under the ‘TSERV’ trademark. This dual-network approach is designed to increase accessibility while maintaining service standards across different markets.
Geetanjali Kirloskar, Chairperson and Managing Director, Kirloskar Systems, said, “The inauguration of our first service outlet marks an important milestone in building a customer-friendly automotive service platform. As Indian customers increasingly value transparency and trust, our focus is on delivering high-quality and dependable service across vehicle brands.”
Srivats Ram, Director, TSSF Group, said, “The launch of this facility reflects our commitment to making professional vehicle service more accessible and affordable. By addressing the gap between customer expectations and the availability of organized service options, we aim to offer reliable solutions that deliver value across the ownership journey.”
Tadashi Asazuma, Deputy Managing Director, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “The launch of the first TSERV Select outlet marks a significant milestone, reflecting our shared commitment to extending Toyota’s service philosophy through strong and capable local partnerships. As a mobility solutions company, our focus goes beyond vehicles to deliver dependable, end-to-end ownership and service experiences that bring mass happiness to customers. Through disciplined processes, skilled teams, and an unwavering focus on quality, we aim to offer customers a consistent, reliable, and high-standard service experience that builds long-term trust and supports their evolving mobility needs.”
Avis India Introduces Luxury Van Rental Service
- By MT Bureau
- January 28, 2026
Avis India has announced the launch of Avis Luxury Van Rentals, expanding its mobility portfolio to address demand for group travel. The service is aimed at corporate and leisure segments, providing transport for business leaders, families, and teams.
The fleet consists of vehicles including the Mercedes-Benz V-Class, Toyota Vellfire, Kia Carnival, Toyota Coaster and Toyota Commuter. These models allow customers to select vehicles based on group size, with the capacity to accommodate up to 25 passengers. The service is available for intracity and intercity travel and is operated by English-speaking chauffeurs.
Bookings, confirmations and modifications are managed through an in-house technology platform. This system is supported by a 24x7 contact centre intended to provide assistance to users. The launch extends the company's existing suite of mobility solutions, focusing on service standards and management for group movements.
Aman Naagar, Managing Director, Avis India, said, “Avis Luxury Van Rentals reflects our focus on delivering elevated mobility experiences for customers who value comfort, reliability and professional service. The launch is designed to meet the requirements of evolving group travel in the country, and further strengthens our portfolio. The service is designed to accommodate up to 25 passengers and reinforces our commitment to delivering seamless premium mobility solutions, nationally.”
Carraro India Opens First Authorised Service Centre In Faridabad
- By MT Bureau
- January 23, 2026
Carraro India, a subsidiary of the Italian group Carraro, has inaugurated its first authorised service centre in Faridabad, Haryana. This facility is the first of four centres the company plans to establish across India by 2026 to support its expansion in the off-highway vehicle market.
The centre is operated in partnership with Balaji Enterprises and will provide maintenance for driveline systems, including axles and transmissions used in agricultural and construction machinery.
The facility is equipped with diagnostic tools and a stock of genuine spare parts to ensure the repair of equipment. It aims to serve customers in Northern India, reducing downtime for fleet operators and farmers. Carraro India currently operates manufacturing plants in Pune and produces driveline solutions for several original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
The inauguration in Faridabad marks the start of a network growth strategy. Carraro intends to open three additional centres in locations with high concentrations of off-highway equipment. This initiative is designed to move after-sales support closer to the end-user, providing technical assistance and training for local mechanics.
Andrea Conchetto, CEO, Carraro Group, stated, “The opening of our first authorised service centre in Faridabad is a milestone in our journey to enhance customer experience in India. This facility is a testament to our commitment to providing world-class service and support to our customers. We are confident that this centre will set new benchmarks in service excellence”.
S Krishnan, Managing Director, Carraro India, said, “The Faridabad centre is the first of many such facilities we plan to open across the country. Our goal is to ensure that our customers have access to genuine parts and expert service, regardless of their location. This expansion will help us strengthen our presence in the Indian market and provide better value to our customers”.
“We are proud to partner with Carraro India in this initiative. Our team is trained to provide the best-in-class service to Carraro customers. We look forward to a successful partnership and to serving the needs of the off-highway vehicle industry in this region,” added Balaji Enterprises representative.
Knorr-Bremse And WESP-Group Launch JV For Commercial Vehicle Data Services
- By MT Bureau
- January 13, 2026
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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