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)

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Bridgestone India has commissioned a new 'Select' store at Hinjewadi Phata in Pune to further strengthen its retail footprint in the region. The 'Select' store, called as Deepraj Tyres, is designed to offer customers a complete tyre and wheel care experience under. Along with premium tyres, customers can expect expert guidance, modern equipment and services that focus on safety, comfort and long-term performance.
Opening the store in response to the growing demand for reliable and high-quality tyre solutions in the region, the 'Select' store is set to serve as a convenient, one-stop destination for tyre and allied services for passenger vehicle owners. It will stock Bridgestone’s latest premium tyre range including the Turanza 6i and Dueler All-Terrain A/T002 besides providing services like wheel alignment and balancing, nitrogen air filling and tyre change. 
“Pune is an important market for Bridgestone. The opening of this Select Store in the city reflects our commitment to offering customers easy access to premium products and trusted services. Our focus is on building long-term relationships by delivering safety, quality, and a consistently good experience,” said Rajiv Sharma, Executive Director, Sales & Marketing, Bridgestone India.
 

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Rosmerta Digital Services Limited (RDSL) and the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to make citizen compliance more accessible through technology, involving buying, selling or transferring a vehicle.
Such a process is today made more challenging beyond paperwork by issues like pending traffic violations/challans that add another layer of complexity. 
The MoU between RDSL and FADA includes Rosmart, the former's compliance services platform where citizens can log in to access challan-related services and address pending traffic violations. Dealers as FADA members will find it easier to support customers by uploading cases in bulk or assist customers directly. Customers can alternatively visit Rosmart.com directly or access the service by scanning a QR code available at participating dealerships and customer touchpoints.
For dealers, the MoU and subsequent access to Rosemart translates into an ability to offer customers support at a time when compliance issues risk slowing down a transaction. For customers, it provides a more convenient way to check and address challan-related requirements online, without having to navigate multiple touchpoints. Helping extend Rosmart across the automotive retail network and ensure service closer to dealers and vehicle owners, the MoU reflects a growing opportunity to use technology to simplify some of the everyday processes that form part of vehicle ownership, mentioned a FADA source.
 

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Racing Promotions Pvt. Ltd. (RPPL) is set to take the Indian Racing Festival (IRF) into a new season of competitive motorsport with the F4 Indian Championship flagging off its 2026 campaign at the Kari Motor Speedway in Coimbatore on September 12-13.

The season will feature six rounds of F4 and four rounds of the Indian Racing League (IRL) across key racing destinations in India, culminating in a landmark street-racing debut at the Navi Mumbai Street Circuit in December.

The FIA-certified F4 Indian Championship will travel through Coimbatore with the finale in Navi Mumbai, providing a platform for the next generation of single-seater drivers to compete at home while gaining valuable race experience and Super Licence points. The 2026 grid will feature drivers representing eight nationalities, competing across eight teams.

The Indian Racing League will join the action in October with its four-round campaign beginning at the Madras International Circuit in Chennai on October 24-25.

The six teams competing in the 2026 Indian Racing League season are Kichcha’s Kings Bengaluru, owned by Kichcha Sudeep; Goa Aces JA Racing, owned by John Abraham; Kolkata Royal Tigers, led by Sourav Ganguly; Hyderabad Blackbirds, owned by Naga Chaitanya; Speed Demons Delhi, backed by Arjun Kapoor; and Chennai Turbo Riders, representing the city under the ownership of Accord Group.

The F4 Indian Championship will meanwhile showcase the next generation of single-seater drivers with the grid featuring talent from India and across the world.

The 2026 grid includes Aaron Mehta (Singapore), Swarnav Das (India), Sai Aditya (USA/India), Anay Doshi (Kenya), Bhuvan Bonu (India), Shravan Shanmugavel (United Kingdom), Krishay Gutte (India), Aryan Narola (USA/India), Mahlori Mabunda (South Africa), Enzo Rujugiro (South Africa), Luviwe Sambudla (South Africa), Ntiyiso Mabunda (South Africa), Mathias Alexander Forland (Norway) and Aris Kyriakou (Australia), representing eight nationalities.

The drivers will represent eight teams with Kolkata Royal Tigers, Chennai Turbo Riders, Hyderabad Blackbirds, Speed Demons Delhi, Goa Aces JA Racing, Godspeed Kochi, Ahmedabad Apex Racers and Kichcha’s Kings Bengaluru set to feature on the F4 grid.

F4 India provides young drivers with an important platform to transition from karting to single-seater racing, while gaining valuable race experience and Super Licence points.

Commenting ahead of the new season, RPPL Chairman and Managing Director Akhilesh Reddy said, “Every season of the Indian Racing Festival is a step forward in our ambition to build a stronger and more visible motorsport ecosystem in India. With the F4 Indian Championship continuing to create a pathway for the next generation of drivers, the Indian Racing League bringing together some of the country’s finest and international talent and the debut of the Navi Mumbai Street Circuit, we are taking the sport to new audiences and new destinations. The 2026 season is an important milestone for RPPL, and we look forward to delivering a season that raises the bar for Indian motorsport both on and off the track.”

Reflecting the aspirations of the young drivers on the grid, Bonu said, “Indian F4 is the next step in my journey and an important milestone towards my goal of reaching F1. I’m looking forward to learning, competing and continuing to build from here.”

The 2026 season will also introduce the Navi Mumbai Street Circuit, which will host the season finale rounds of both championships. The move towards a street-racing format marks another step in RPPL’s vision of taking motorsport beyond traditional circuits and bringing the sport closer to fans across India's cities.

The Indian Racing Festival will be broadcast on STAR Sports KHEL in Hinglish, STAR Sports 2 Kannada in Kannada and STAR Sports 2 Tamil in Tamil. Fans can also stream the action on JioHotstar in English, Hinglish, Kannada and Tamil, while the STAR Sports YouTube channel will stream the races for viewers in territories outside India.

The 2026 season will be supported by JK Tyre, Nayara Energy and Bisleri as sponsors, further strengthening the festival’s growing ecosystem.

Driver Line-up

Kolkata Royal Tigers: Aaron Mehta (Singapore), Swarnav Das (India)

Chennai Turbo Riders: Sai Aditya (USA/India), Anay Doshi (Kenya)

Hyderabad Blackbirds: Bhuvan Bonu (India), Shravan Shanmugavel (United Kingdom)

Speed Demons Delhi: Krishay Gutte (India), Ntiyiso Mabunda (South Africa)

Goa Aces JA Racing: Aryan Narola (USA/India), Luviwe Sambudla (South Africa)

Godspeed Kochi: Mahlori Mabunda (South Africa)

Ahmedabad Apex Racers: Mathias Alexander Forland (Norway)

Kichcha’s Kings Bengaluru: Enzo Rujugiro (South Africa), Aris Kyriakou (Australia)

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Tier 1 automotive supplier Uno Minda has launched a new range of four-wheeler LED bulbs for passenger cars for the aftermarket at prices starting at INR 3,500.

The LED range is offered in power output options of 90W, 110W, 150W, 170W, 220W and 300W, generating 6000K light output. It features AC/DC electrical compatibility, an internal copper core for heat dissipation and an anti-rust powder coating to prevent corrosion. The design provides low and high beam patterns intended to replace factory-fitted halogen bulbs across multiple car models.

Anand Kumar, Business Head, Uno Minda Aftermarket, said, “In line with our commitment to Driving the New, Uno Minda introduces the upgraded 4-Wheeler LED Bulb range, engineered to combine enhanced road safety, superior performance, and modern styling. Emitting a 6000K Crystal White Light with a precise high/low beam pattern, these bulbs maximize visibility of lane markings and road signs for safer night driving. Built for exceptional durability and heat management, the range features a high-conductivity Copper Core, robust anti-rust powder coating, and broad AC/DC compatibility. Available in multiple wattage options, Uno Minda LED bulbs deliver a premium aesthetic upgrade and long-lasting dependability for modern passenger cars.”

The component range is priced between INR 3,500 and INR 18,000 for the 150W, 170W and 220W variants.

The LED range can be purchased through traditional automotive retail stockists as well as e-commerce platforms, including Amazon, Flipkart and the company's dedicated portal, Uno Minda Kart.

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