SMK, the premium brand of Studds Accessories Ltd, launched the SMK Cygnus helmet and a new collection of riding gear at India Bike Week 2025. The company, part of the world’s largest helmet manufacturer by volume, introduced several models and a complete riding jacket line-up following their debut at EICMA.

The SMK Cygnus features a 180deg rotating chin bar, a flip-back innovation that allows the helmet to convert between full-face and open-face modes. This mechanism enables the helmet to sit differently to suit various postures, such as an upright position for cruisers or a tucked position for sport riding.

The helmet is one of the few in India with P/J Certification, allowing it to be used safely in both open and closed positions. It is constructed with an Energy Impact Resistant Thermoplastic (EIRT) shell and a multi-density EPS liner. Features include a wide anti-scratch visor with Pinlock MaxVision @120, an integrated sun visor, a double D-ring fastener, and a removable hypoallergenic liner. The Cygnus is expected to retail between INR 17,000 and 20,000 in the coming months.

SMK also announced the arrival of the Ares and Nova models. The Ares includes a detachable sun peak and sun visor, while the Nova features an eyeglass-friendly harness and an optically corrected field of vision. These models will be priced at INR 6,350 and INR 3,900 respectively.

For urban and touring needs, the brand introduced the Delta City and Delta Tour demi-jet helmets:

Delta City: A lightweight helmet for commuting with an internal clear visor and moisture-wicking fabric.

Delta Tour: Designed for long distances with an external dual visor, contoured cheek pads, and pockets for Bluetooth communication systems. Prices for the Delta series start from INR 3,299.

The brand displayed its full riding jacket collection, all of which are CE Level A certified. The Infinity Rush and Gladiator models are designed for summer with mesh panels and waterproof liners. The Apex Adventura is a 3/4-length touring jacket with thermal liners and a hydration pack system. For women, the Athenova provides a winter solution with waterproofing and ergonomic styling.

Sidhartha Bhushan Khurana, Managing Director, STUDDS Accessories, said: “India Bike Week has always been about celebration of the evolving spirit of riding in India. As demand grows for premium motorcycles and high-quality riding gear, SMK has been at the forefront of leading this shift with our commitment to premium design, advanced safety and superior comfort, for diverse riding styles. We are proud to introduce our new helmet range, led by the Cygnus, along with refreshed graphics and an expanded jacket collection. The overwhelming response from riders today further validates SMK preference as a premium helmet Brand in India.”

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Cars24 has announced the acquisition of Vehicle Info, an automotive utility application. The move is intended to facilitate the development of a vehicle ownership platform in India.

The acquisition signals a shift in strategy for Cars24, moving from a focus on buying and selling transactions toward managing the vehicle lifecycle. Vehicle Info provides users with tools to track insurance validity, traffic challans, FASTag balances and vehicle documentation within a single interface.

Vehicle Info was founded by Chirag Pipaliya in Surat. Developed without venture capital, the application was designed to address the daily management needs of car owners rather than one-time transactions. The platform currently ranks among the most used automotive applications in India for document compliance and utility tracking.

Vehicle Info will continue to operate as a standalone application. Its existing team will work with Cars24 to integrate these utility features into a broader ecosystem for car management.

The integration aims to consolidate fragmented services that vehicle owners typically manage across multiple platforms. By combining transactional data with ownership utility, the companies intend to create a system that serves users throughout the duration of vehicle possession.

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Roinet Insurance Brokers has announced the launch of Roinet Kavach, a digital motor insurance platform designed to increase insurance adoption in Tier III to Tier VI markets. The company expects 2.5x–3x growth over the next 6–12 months and is targeting a GMV of INR 1 billion by FY2027, with motor insurance projected to contribute 35 percent of revenue.

The platform utilises a network of over 70,000 rural touchpoints to reach first-time buyers, who currently represent 65 percent of the customer base. Primary growth has been recorded in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.

Roinet Kavach is a mobile-first interface designed for low-bandwidth environments. It allows Point of Sale Persons (POSPs) to generate quotes, compare premiums and issue policies in three minutes.

The platform currently integrates real-time pricing from ICICI Lombard, Chola MS, SBI General and Go Digit. At present, two-wheelers contributes 75 percent, private cars 15 percent and commercial vehicles 10 percent of policies, respectively.

The platform serves 1,000 POSPs in rural and semi-urban regions, providing them with vernacular support, renewal integration, and claims assistance. According to the company, the system creates a monthly income stream of INR 2,000 to INR 10,000 for these distributors through transparent commissions.

Future plans for the platform include the introduction of telematics-based risk scoring, electric-vehicle-specific products, and usage-based pricing models as regulations evolve.

Rahul Mathur, CEO, Roinet Insurance Brokers, said, “Roinet Kavach solves a real and persistent distribution gap in motor insurance by ensuring transparency, efficiency, and accessibility for millions of Indians who have never availed a policy before. By placing the right digital tools in the hands of our last-mile POSPs, who are our backbone, we are strengthening insurance reach in underserved markets and helping build financial resilience in regions the industry has long overlooked. It is a win-win for both the end customer and our POSPs.”

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Autorox, a digital repair shop network, and Boodmo, an automotive spare parts marketplace, have announced a strategic partnership to create a connected aftermarket ecosystem in India. The collaboration aims to link workshops, parts catalogues and sellers in real time.

At present, Autorox operates a network of 2,000 workshops in India and has a presence in 40 countries. The partnership focuses on a ‘Discovery First’ workflow, which embeds parts intelligence directly into the digital repair order used by technicians.

The system integrates a digital parts catalogue into the Autorox repair process. When a vehicle is diagnosed, the workshop can identify parts, verify fitment and check live inventory from sellers on the Autozilla platform without leaving the repair interface. This data is then surfaced to marketplaces like Boodmo.

This integration is intended to replace manual searches and external catalogue checks. By linking the repair order to live seller data, the companies aim to ensure that stock levels reflect actual inventory rather than cached data.

The companies stated that this launch is the first step in a broader partnership. Future phases are expected to include:

• Fulfillment Integration: Streamlining the delivery of parts from sellers to workshops.
• Ecosystem Data Sharing: Building an interoperable infrastructure for the Indian aftermarket.
• Automated Procurement: Linking diagnosis triggers directly to parts ordering.

Vijay Gummadi, Founder & CEO, Autorox, said, “India never waited for landlines or legacy banking - it leapfrogged straight to mobile and UPI. The aftermarket is at that same moment. Our partnership with boodmo is how we make that leap. By embedding real-time parts discovery directly into the repair workflow and linking it to live seller availability, we are eliminating guesswork and wasted time - and building a connected ecosystem that India's aftermarket has never had before.”

Oleksandr Danylenko, Founder, Boodmo, added, “By tapping into real-time availability from sellers, we are strengthening trust across the ecosystem and improving outcomes for workshops, sellers, and customers alike.”

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Assurance Intl has announced the relaunch of ACDelco, the automotive aftermarket brand owned by General Motors (GM), in the Indian market. The move follows a licensing and strategic partnership between the two companies.

Under the agreement, Assurance Intl will serve as the official licensee for ACDelco in India, managing the manufacturing, marketing and distribution of specific products. The initial range consists of automotive batteries and lubricants for passenger and commercial vehicles.

To support the relaunch, Assurance Intl has established production capabilities at its facilities in Hisar, Haryana. The site includes a battery manufacturing plant and a blending facility for engine oils and automotive fluids.

The company stated that local production is intended to manage pricing while adhering to the quality standards set by General Motors. Products will be supplied through a network encompassing distributors, retailers and workshops across India.

The partnership aims to address local market requirements while following GM’s global aftermarket strategy. The companies also intend to investigate the development of battery technologies and lubricants aligned with vehicle trends and sustainability.

Rakesh Sharma, MD, Assurance Intl, said, “This partnership is a natural synergy between ACDelco’s global legacy in automotive aftermarket solutions and Assurance Intl’s manufacturing expertise, quality experience and distribution capabilities in the Indian automotive sector.”

Mahesh Ravindran, Country Lead (India) - Commercial Operations of Chevrolet Sales India, added, “The relaunch of ACDelco automotive batteries and lubricants products in India through an official licensing arrangement is aligned with our global aftermarket brand strategy. Assurance Intl’s operational capabilities and understanding of local market requirements provide a strong platform for the ACDelco brand in the country.”

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