Volkswagen India has expanded its footprint in Kerala with the inauguration of city stores in Calicut, Trivandrum and Kochi besides an additional body shop facility in Kochi and two more sales and service facilities at Kodungallur as well as Palakkad. 

The addition of these outlets marks a significant expansion for Volkswagen in Kerala, growing its footprint to 21 sales and 16 service facilities in the state. This growth underscores the brand’s commitment to providing premium mobility solutions to the growing customer base in Kerala.

The new city stores will showcase Volkswagen India’s premium product portfolio of the 5-star GNCAP safety rated Taigun, Virtus as well as the brand’s globally acclaimed Tiguan SUV. The Calicut city store features a two-car display, while the Trivandrum and Kochi outlets will each house displays of three cars from the Brand’s product portfolio. 

The new body shop facility in Kochi, is equipped with 11 service bays and will also offer comprehensive services including Express Service and full-fledged body repair facilities This facility is designed to provide efficient, high-quality service to meet the needs of Volkswagen customers in the region.

Rejoicing the upcoming festive spirit, the Volkswagen brand has also launched a special celebratory Onam Edition on the Virtus and Taigun that will feature Front Parking Sensors, Dual Tone Horn, Puddle Lamps, TSI Fender Badge and more.

Ashish Gupta, Brand Director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars India, said, “Kerala has always been a key market for Volkswagen India with its dynamic economy and discerning customer base. The opening of these new touchpoints as well as the introduction of special celebratory Onam Edition of Taigun and Virtus, are a testament to our commitment to the Kerala market and our endeavor to provide premium, German-engineered vehicles to our valued customers here. With the expanded network, we are well-positioned to meet the increasing demand from the upcoming festive season while continuing to offer a seamless, transparent, and value-for-money products and services to our customers in Kerala.”

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Bengaluru-based technology-driven start-up Autoverse Mobility has announced that auto industry veteran Rama Shankar Pandey has joined the company as Co-Founder.

Pandey, a former Managing Director of Hella India Lighting and a member of the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association (ACMA), will join the leadership team to focus on manufacturer relations and distribution infrastructure.

Concurrently, the company launched its Autoverse Parts Procurement Platform, an integrated digital tool designed to streamline the sourcing and delivery of genuine automotive parts to independent workshops across India.

Autoverse aims to transform the fragmented Indian multi-brand garage sector, which often lacks consistency in quality and part reliability. The platform seeks to establish a supply chain that connects original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and original equipment suppliers (OES) directly to garages. By ensuring the availability of authentic parts, accurate fitment, and transparent delivery, Autoverse plans to increase trust and efficiency in the aftermarket service channel.

Pandey brings over two decades of leadership experience from the automotive, transportation, and manufacturing sectors, including key roles at Bosch, Tata Green Batteries and Hella.

Rama Shankar Pandey, said, “Autoverse is building something truly transformative; a transparent, tech-enabled supply chain that addresses one of the biggest challenges workshops face today: sourcing genuine parts reliably and quickly. With the launch of our integrated Partner App and Web Platform, we are creating a future-ready ecosystem that delivers authenticity, speed, and operational efficiency. I’m excited to join Mihir, Shiv, and KK in this mission to empower independent workshops across India.”

The new Autoverse Parts Procurement Platform is a digital system that connects workshops directly to manufacturers and their existing distribution channels to improve efficiency.

Key features of the platform include:

• Smart Parts Discovery: A catalogue with over 6 million car–part mappings for precise fitment checks.
• Real-Time Data: Instant visibility into stock levels, pricing and alternative part options.
• Integrated Ordering: One-click ordering with live tracking from supplier to garage.
• Support Modules: Dedicated support for categories including lubricants, filters, suspension, brake, clutch and electrical components.
• Garage Management Tools: Features such as loyalty programmes, order history and automated recommendations to improve workshop profitability.

Autoverse aims to deliver high-demand parts within 45 minutes through a hybrid logistics model, supported by a network of own and partner warehouses.

Mihir Mohan, Founder and CEO, Autoverse Mobility, said, “We’re thrilled to welcome Rama to our founding team and equally excited to introduce the Autoverse Partner Platform to the market. Rama’s leadership experience and domain depth will play a crucial role as we scale our operations nationwide. With our new platform, we are strengthening our promise of timely access to genuine, high-quality parts - enabling garages to deliver safer and more dependable service to car owners.”

Autoverse Mobility, founded by Mihir Mohan, Shiv Soni, and Krishnakumar (KK), has raised USD 3.2 million from investors including Exfinity Ventures and Ventureast to scale its technology and logistics network.

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NIPSEA Group, a subsidiary of Nippon Paint Holdings of Japan, has appointed Sharad Malhotra as the Managing Director of Nippon Paint India, effective 1 December 2025. Malhotra becomes the first Indian national appointed to the position, succeeding Jon Tan, and is set to report to the Group CEO, Wee Siew Kim.

The appointment aligns with Nippon Paint's plans for business growth in India, which the company views as a strategic market for expansion. Malhotra is a 15-year veteran at Nippon Paint, having established the automotive refinish, wood coatings and light industrial coatings segments in India. He is an existing Director on the company's Board and has been involved in the firm’s venture beyond paint into categories such as paint protection films.

Wee Siew Kim, Co-President of Nippon Paint Holdings and Group CEO, NIPSEA Group, said, "We are delighted to appoint Sharad Malhotra to this pivotal leadership role. Sharad has successfully led and charted a strong growth path for our auto refinish business globally, while being based in India. His proven ability to deliver results, deep understanding of our business, and commitment to excellence make him ideally suited to lead our India operations through the next phase of growth.”

As Managing Director, Malhotra will be responsible for the overall direction and strategy of the India Group. His focus will be on sustainable growth across all segments of the Indian paint market. He will continue to lead Nippon Paint’s global expansion in the automotive aftermarket business, a category he has overseen since inception.

"It is an immense honour to lead Nippon Paint India at this transformative and pivotal moment. The Indian market presents unique opportunities and challenges, and I look forward to expand possibilities for our business, build on our strengths and support our customers and partners as we move forward," said Malhotra.

Nippon Paint, the world’s fourth largest paint company by revenue, views India as a key market due to its population, economic growth and consumer base.

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Hyundai Mobis India, the component business of Hyundai Motor Company, has introduced a complete range of Genuine Accessories for the all-new Hyundai Venue C-SUV.

The new range of accessories includes front and rear bumper extenders, body side moulding, C-pillar scoop and twin hood scoop to provide more personalisation option for Venue C-SUV customers. The range also includes Door Edge Guard, Window Beading, Door Handle Chrome, Door Visor, Hood branding, ORVM Garnish, Sidestep, Door Sill Guard and Rear Sill Guard.

The company has also launched Carpet Mat Premium, which is made from 100 percent recycled nylon.

Myeong Jae Lee, Head of After Sales Parts Business Division at Mobis India, said, “At Mobis India, our focus has always been on enhancing customer satisfaction through innovation, quality, and care. The new Hyundai Venue accessories, including the distinctive body kit and lifestyle range, are designed to make every journey more stylish, safe and comfortable. In line with our commitment to sustainability, we are proud to introduce the ‘Carpet Mat Premium’, crafted entirely from 100 percent recycled nylon.”

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Shell Lubricants has announced that it has maintained its status as the world's leading supplier of finished lubricants for 19 consecutive years, according to the 23rd edition of the Global Lubricants: Market Analysis and Assessment 2025 report by Kline & Company (Kline).

The report ranks Shell as the number one global lubricants supplier based on finished lubricants sales volumes across automotive and industrial segments worldwide. Shell held a global market share of 11.6 percent, with sales in 2024 split evenly across segments: 37 percent consumer automotive, 32 percent industrial and 31 percent commercial automotive. Shell secured the number one ranking in all three categories: consumer automotive, commercial automotive and industrial.

The Kline report assesses the use of lubricants across end-use industries and emerging market trends such as electric vehicles (EVs) and immersion cooling fluids (ICFs).

Shell attributes its market position to investments in premium and differentiated products, including Shell Helix passenger car motor oil, Shell Rimula truck and heavy-duty engine oils, and Shell Tellus and Shell Gadus for industrial sectors.

In 2025, Shell Helix Ultra upgraded to the latest API SQ specifications, followed by the launch of Shell Advance Ultra with API SP for motorcycles and scooters. The company also renewed its partnership with BMW M Motorsport.

In the industrial sector, Shell introduced DLC Fluid S3, a Direct Liquid Cooling solution for high-performance computing and AI. Shell Lubricants also achieved an industry first when its immersion cooling fluids received Intel certification, enabling their use in data centres worldwide.

Jason Wong, Global Executive Vice-President, Shell Lubricants, said, “At nineteen consecutive years of leadership as the number one global supplier of finished lubricants, we remain focused on the ability of lubricants to power progress across consumer, commercial and industrial applications. Our aim is to become the most customer-focused energy marketer and trader, and we continue to invest in premium, high-efficiency products. These offerings create long- term value in areas where we have market leadership and competitive advantages.”

Sushmita Dutta, Senior Project Manager at Kline, stated, “To maintain the number one position in the global lubricants market for nineteen consecutive years is a remarkable achievement. Our analysis shows that Shell’s success is built on a consistent strategy: investing in technologically advanced, premium products and building lasting relationships with customers across all sectors."

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