Steelbird displayed an extensive range of automotive components at Auto Expo 2023, from over 3,000 products across filters, rubber parts, lubricants, tyres, bearings, horns, spark plugs and more. Widely known as a filtration expert in the auto filters category, the company has aligned its strategic intent with advanced automation and innovation in the industry, it claims. The company’s showcase of products and solutions at Auto Expo 2023 bear testimony to this pursuit. 

According to Steelbird, it also has other significant achievements, based on Technovation, in recent times. These include a joint venture with TVS Bangladesh for manufacturing automotive filters, being a supplier to OEMs worldwide, Technovation enabling a recent tie-up with Hella, and bringing automotive cybersecurity to Indian OEMs from Cybellum of Israel. Sharing his views, Manav Kapur, Executive Director, Steelbird International, said, "This is a breakthrough hi-tech initiative for Steelbird International. As we move in an increasingly interconnected world, the threat of cyberattacks to vehicles and the need to adopt effective solutions has also skyrocketed."

Coming to Auto Expo, Kapur, said, “We have made significant advances in business and our brand equity, even if we compare our width and depth of our showcase from the last Auto Expo in 2020. Thanks to our steadfast commitment and initiatives to set the benchmark in terms of Technovation consistently, today we have the best brands collaborating with us, the best customers buying from us and the best people working for us. I am proud to say that Steelbird has achieved the Great Place to Work accreditation, awarded by the institute. The certification recognises our company’s commitment to provide a learning-based and growth-oriented working environment. We are looking forward to fruitful discussions and opportunities at Auto Expo 2023. Our expectation is to forge partnerships with new customers, influencers, channel partners and business partners from the 100,000+ visitors from over 70 countries expected here during the event.”

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Manav Kapur, Director of Steelbird International, an automotive component supplier, has been appointed Chairman of the Aftermarket pillar of the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA).

Kapur takes on this new responsibility after completing his tenure as Chairman of ACMA’s Young Business Leaders Forum (YBLF), where he was leading initiatives to strengthen industry engagement and build future leadership. Akhilesh Rai, Director, Suprajit Engineering, has succeeded Kapur as Chairman of YBLF.

“The Indian aftermarket is at an inflection point. With rising vehicle ownership, a growing focus on safety, and India’s expanding role in global mobility value chains, there is a tremendous opportunity to transform this sector. Our priority will be to drive initiatives that not only make India self-reliant but also position our aftermarket industry as a trusted global partner,” said Kapur.

The announcement comes alongside the appointment of Vikrampati Singhania, Managing Director, JK Fenner (India), as the new President of ACMA for 2025–26 and Sriram Viji, Managing Director, Brakes India, as President Designate.

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Tier 1 supplier Uno Minda has introduced its new line of car care products designed for the booming Indian automotive aftermarket. This strategic move responds to the increasing demand from Indian consumers for high-quality, DIY maintenance solutions for their vehicles.

The Indian car care market is expanding rapidly, fuelled by a growing number of vehicle owners with higher disposable incomes who are focused on maintaining the appearance and resale value of their cars. Consumers are also increasingly aware of the need for products that can protect their vehicles from India's diverse climate, from harsh monsoon rains to scorching summer heat.

The new product line from Uno Minda offers a wide variety of solutions for both interior and exterior car maintenance. The lineup includes a Car Exterior Wash Shampoo, a Waterless Wash for quick clean-ups and a Car Exterior Polish to give a radiant shine.

For interior care, the products include an Anti-Bacterial Interior Foam and Car AC Vent Hygiene Foam with silver nano technology to ensure a clean cabin. The range also features a Glass Anti-Fog Spray and a Windshield Cleaner Foam to improve visibility and safety during adverse weather conditions.

Karna Markan, Head of Sales & Distribution (Accessories) at Uno Minda, “Our entry into the Auto Care segment reflects Uno Minda's commitment to advancing alongside our customers. With the automotive care sector growing rapidly and consumers increasingly prioritising vehicle maintenance, there is a growing demand for trusted brands. The new car care line offers features for both internal and external applications. Internally, the Anti Fog Demister ensures windshields and windows remain clear of fog and mist, promoting safe driving in adverse weather and reducing eye fatigue. A highly effective foam cleaner removes dirt, grime, bugs, road residue and contaminants from car windshields, enhancing visibility and safety. Externally, the line includes a thorough car wash that gently cleans and restores the vehicle's paint, leaving it brilliantly gleaming and protected with a radiant gloss. These products are formulated with wash-active agents to effectively eliminate road debris, dust, oily residues and greasy contaminants without a trace, ensuring vehicles maintain their pristine appearance and durability."

The products are formulated with ‘wash-active agents’ to effectively remove road debris, dust and oily residues without damaging the vehicle's finish. They are also designed to be easy for consumers to use at home.

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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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