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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AutoDukan, a digital aftermarket platform, has announced that it has secured USD 1 million in a pre-Series A funding round to expand its AI-driven services across the country.

The startup, which specialises in spare parts procurement, insurance claim processing and multi-brand workshop enablement, plans to use the new capital to scale its operations, enhance its AI technology and deepen its partnerships with insurers, fleet operators and OEM suppliers.

The funding round was led by the Choice Group and a number of high-net-worth individuals, with continued support from MetroMax Group's Indian arm and angel investor Ankit Sajnani. This latest investment follows earlier funding rounds backed by Rohit Goyal, Windrose Capital and NRI investor Raghu Venkatraman.

Gunjan Ruparelia, Co-Founder and CEO, AutoDukan, said, “Our latest investment validates our AI-first approach to solving a deeply fragmented market. We’re not just digitising procurement, we are building an intelligent backbone for the automotive repair and insurance ecosystem.”

Sumit Desai, CTO, said, “AI allows us to anticipate demand and match parts instantly. This funding helps us bring that efficiency to India’s largest automotive regions.”

Pranay Tagare, COO, said, “We’re driving data-driven precision into a traditionally manual industry. AutoDukan’s AI platform delivers speed, transparency and trust at scale.”

“We are excited to lead AutoDukan’s Pre-Series A round. The company’s AI-driven approach addresses real inefficiencies in India’s automobile aftermarket, and we are confident it will transform spare part procurement and insurance claim workflows nationwide.” said Choice Group.

AutoDukan claimed it achieved a 10x growth over the last two years, attributing its success to its AI platform, which provides data-driven precision, speed and transparency. The platform was first adopted by one of India's largest insurance players, demonstrating its potential to transform the nation’s automobile aftermarket.

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Lubrizol has announced the appointment of Abhishek Shrivastava as its new Managing Director for India, the Middle East and Africa (IMEA).

The company said that he comes with extensive experience and technical expertise to accelerate growth and enhance its support for customers throughout the region.

In his new role, Shrivastava will oversee Lubrizol’s regional strategy, focusing on fostering local innovation, strengthening manufacturing and supply chain capabilities and developing the company's talent pool. He brings nearly two decades of experience in business transformation, R&D and technical leadership. Most recently, he served as Lubrizol's Vice-President, Innovation and Decision Science, where he was instrumental in developing sustainable and digital innovation capabilities.

Rebecca Liebert, Lubrizol's President and CEO, said, "Abhishek’s appointment reflects the strategic importance of the IMEA region for Lubrizol’s future. His deep industry knowledge, technical expertise, and ability to align innovation with customer needs make him ideally suited to support the region’s growth potential and strengthen our presence across these key markets."

Shrivastava will be responsible for driving a ‘local-for-local’ model, enabling regional teams to identify and capitalise on market-specific opportunities. He will also work closely with global and regional leadership to deepen engagement with customers, suppliers, and other stakeholders across the IMEA markets.

"India, the Middle East and Africa are dynamic regions, full of opportunity and home to exceptional talent. Lubrizol has a strong legacy here, and we are committed to furthering localised innovation, regional collaboration and impactful partnerships. As industries evolve, we remain dedicated to collaborating closely with our stakeholders and developing solutions that address local needs," Shrivastava commented.

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Valvoline Cummins and Mahindra & Mahindra have announced a new strategic collaboration, deepening a relationship that has spanned over two decades. Under a new four-year agreement, Valvoline Cummins will now be the primary supplier of genuine lubricants for Mahindra's aftermarket business, including products sold under the Mahindra - Maximile brand.

This partnership will see Valvoline Cummins supply a range of high-performing lubricants, such as engine, transmission and axle oils, specifically tailored for Mahindra’s entire fleet of passenger vehicles, SUVs and pickups. These products will be distributed through Mahindra's expansive dealership and ‘Bazar’ networks in India's North, West and East zones.

Sandeep Kalia, Managing Director, Valvoline Cummins, said, “As a trusted partner with Mahindra for the past decade, we are excited for this evolution of our relationship. Today marks a major milestone that will enable significant business growth and reflects further confidence in our people, technology, innovation, serviceability and continuous commitment to customer centricity as a core value.”

Michael Dreyer, Senior Vice-President, Valvoline Global Operations, added, “Mahindra is fast becoming a trusted global brand, and Valvoline is well positioned to collaborate across geographies and support their global ambitions. This strategic agreement unites two trusted names with a shared focus on performance, innovation and sustainability. As Valvoline expands its role within the Mahindra ecosystem, the collaboration is set to deliver enhanced value across vehicles, and customer experiences — setting new benchmarks for excellence in automotive lubricant solutions.”

In a move that aligns with the sustainability goals of both companies, Valvoline Cummins will also introduce Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) packaging for its products supplied to Mahindra, reinforcing their commitment to responsible business practices and environmental stewardship.

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Schaeffler India has launched the fourth edition of its Social Innovator Fellowship Program under its CSR initiative, HOPE. The programme aims to support young innovators aged 18 to 35 who are working on scalable solutions to address environmental and societal challenges.

Ten selected fellows will receive a grant of INR 175,000 each and participate in a 24-week hybrid mentorship programme at IIMA Ventures. The fellowship includes access to Schaeffler India’s innovation network and resources to help scale their projects.

Applications are open to individuals, groups, institutions and both for-profit and non-profit organisations across India. The focus areas include environmental sustainability, renewable energy, carbon neutrality, circular economy, natural resource management and the use of technology in the social sector. Applicants must present a working prototype, a clear target audience and a roadmap for growth and viability.

A multi-stage selection process, including interviews and a final pitch, will be conducted by a jury comprising Schaeffler India leadership and India Accelerator experts.

Harsha Kadam, Managing Director & CEO, Schaeffler India, said, “At Schaeffler India, we truly believe in innovation and development, and we have been investing in inclusive and sustainable programs. Through structured initiatives such as HOPE, we aim to empower and nurture visionary young innovators with a pioneering spirit who are developing technology-driven solutions for social sectors and environmental issues, making a meaningful difference through their unique approaches. Schaeffler aims to be both an enabler and catalyst in solving these issues, affirming its belief in innovation as a force for equitable progress”.

Shibi Mathew, Head of HR and CSR, added, “We are deeply committed to advancing the meaningful progress of our communities. We proudly announce the launch of the Schaeffler India Social Innovator Fellowship Program for 2025, with the primary aim of harnessing and supporting the pioneering spirit of young and passionate innovators across India. This program offers a remarkable opportunity for talented individuals to bring improvements to social and ecological issues through their innovative solutions. We eagerly await the participation of outstanding leaders who will demonstrate a strong commitment to developing transformative solutions, resulting in more resilient systems, empowered communities, and positively impacted lives.”

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