Q: What are the challenges faced by the members of the Auto Care Association during the COVID-19 induced scenario?

Hanvey: While our association’s Government Affairs team was able to successfully lobby and petition all levels of Government here in the United States to categorise our industry as “essential,” which allowed our members to continue operating their businesses, there are still a number of challenges facing our members right now. The overall decline in Vehicle Miles Travelled by Americans we saw in March/April this year has had an impact on the demand for parts and services in the aftermarket.

Additionally, all businesses—not just auto care industry businesses—have to navigate continuously changing health and safety regulations, a bureaucratic process for receiving emergency relief or stimulus funding, figuring out how to pay back emergency Government loans, and the increased potential for lawsuits if a customer or employee becomes ill.

Despite these challenges facing our industry, we’ve seen some positive trends in the aftermarket since the spring, including a rise in Vehicle Miles Travelled, an increase in the forecasted sales of light vehicles, and an increase in Do-It-Yourself (DIY) activity.

Q: What are the leanings for Auto Care Association from the COVID- 19-induced new normal and how it supported its members during this time?

Hanvey: As an association, we remain optimistic, despite the obstacles our industry has been facing. We’ve been fighting for our members on all fronts, including providing a dedicated and comprehensive Coronavirus resources webpage, lobbying all levels of Government for “essential” status, assisting members with navigating Government regulations and loans, as well as surveying members and tracking industry trends to keep both our association and our members informed on the latest developments in this battle with COVID-19 on our industry and our country.

Q: How has the ‘Be Car Care Aware’ campaign helped during COVID-19?

Hanvey: The Car Care Council has continued to inform and instruct vehicle owners on how to maintain their vehicles during COVID-19, even if their cars are spending more time in their driveways than on highways.

Q: What kind of role does the Auto Care Association play when the geopolitical imbroglio between different nations erupt leading to changes in the tariff, affecting the business of your members?

Hanvey: The Auto Care Association’s priority is and will always be the protection of our members and our industry’s future. Our Government Affairs team works year-round to defend the interests of our members, whether it’s for vehicle data access in Massachusetts or testifying before Congress about the impact of tariffs on complex global supply chains. We, as an association, also work extensively to facilitate meetings between our members and their congressional representatives to form meaningful relationships that can result in the prioritisation of our industry’s needs. We also work with our sister associations in-country to further demonstrate the impact of tariffs on multiple economies and get those messages to lawmakers.

Q: Can you update on the issues related to tariffs and their implications?

Hanvey: Our association continues to engage with the United States Government to seek means of relief for our members and industry from the negative impact of tariffs. We have been able to assist many of our members with obtaining exemptions from some of these burdensome tariffs, but we will continue engaging with the Government on this issue until the elimination of these tariffs is achieved.

Q: How do you see the growth of the US aftermarket vis-à-vis the global aftermarket industry?

Hanvey: Despite COVID impacts, forecasts for GDP growth in other countries for 2021 and 2022 show countries emerging from the pandemic and returning to positive growth, according to IHS Markit. Demand was improving for light vehicles as much of the world reopened, but of course, with new closures happening as a “second wave” permeates, that could obviously be affected. In the US, August sales were advancing recovery in auto demand since April as incentives, reopenings and stimulus helped auto demand defy economic indicators.

Again, the second wave happening now is likely affecting that. The aftermarket continues to demonstrate that it’s a recession-resilient industry and forecasts show a quicker recovery than expected due to more DIY and more preference for personal rather than public modes of transportation. More reliance on the current VIO means the vehicle age will continue to grow as people keep their cars for longer meaning more opportunities for the aftermarket to keep money in wallets and offer more convenience in a newly inconvenient world. While what is happening now is referred to as a V-shaped recovery, the emergence of a second wave could possibly point to a W-shaped recovery.

Q: What kind of changes do you see in the aftermarket with the automotive industry being triggered by either legislation or regulation?

Hanvey: The aftermarket continues to change and adapt to new technologies, and it absolutely presents an opportunity to standardise repair procedures to keep consumers safe as well as a level playing field for the industry. In fact, the Auto Care Association Emerging Technologies Workgroup has been working to identify these challenges and turn them into opportunities for the aftermarket as well as working to ensure that the aftermarket is included in the evolving transportation ecosystem and that there is a level playing field for all.

An Auto Care Emerging Technologies workgroup is defining a set of best practice recommendations to standardise safe and efficient ADAS sensor recalibration processes for all passenger vehicles. That workgroup is also defining standards recommendations that ensure fair and equitable access to embedded device software needed to maintain and repair today’s vehicles.

Secure Vehicle Interface (SVI) – our work to standardise the transmission of wirelessly generated vehicle data is critical to the future of the aftermarket.

Q: Today, almost all the vehicles, including trucks, are connected in one way or the other. What are the new challenges that emerge out of these connected vehicles?

Hanvey: The foremost challenge our industry is facing with “connected” vehicle technology is ensuring access to the telematics data generated by today’s vehicles for the aftermarket and vehicle owners. Without access to this vehicle data, the vehicle manufacturers are able to shut out vehicle owners and their independent repair shops, which stifles competition and increases prices. This is precisely why we returned to the battleground of Massachusetts this year to present a ballot question to voters intended to amend the original Right to Repair law and put consumers in control of their vehicle. We were victorious with a 75% yes vote.

Q: The Auto Care Association has been working on developing the adoption of the secure vehicle interface to access data cyber-securely utilising ISO standards. What is the update on this?

Hanvey: The Auto Care Association, along with Michelin and Enterprise Holdings, produced a demonstration in September for the European Commission and other interested constituents around the world on the Secure Vehicle Interface (SVI). SVI is a standards-based technology that enables secure cyber access to in-vehicle data to trusted third parties. The European Commission is currently working towards delivering a legislative proposal on the critical topic of access to in-vehicle data, which will define the future of the mobility ecosystem in Europe and around the world.

Viewed globally by over 300 participants, the webinar included a live demonstration of the capabilities of SVI, examples of potential applications and new opportunities presented by the technology.

Q: How is the Auto Care Association preparing its members to cater to electric mobility?

Hanvey: This is an important development that the entire industry needs to work together on to prepare future technicians. We work with partners such as TechForce, ASE and our community programmes to provide scholarships to young professionals looking to pursue careers in the industry and share information that showcases what the “new” reality of incoming technicians and why these jobs are so viable.

Q: What is the feedback to ACES (Aftermarket Catalogue Exchange Standard) and PIES (Product Information Exchange Standard); do they need any amendments?

Hanvey: The Auto Care Association recently received a federal award that will grant the association $299,000 from the International Trade Administration’s (ITA) Market Development Cooperator Programme (MDCP) award to help the automotive aftermarket industry facilitate the implementation and adoption of ACES and PIES technology standards in China and key Latin American markets.

We also continued to expand our standards coverage this year. On the ACES front, VCdb South America will soon become available, providing vehicle content in our VCdb database for Chile, Colombia, Argentina and Brazil. Spanish Translations for the VCdb, Qdb, PCdb and PAdb will also be available as an add-on. We’ve expanded the catalogue and access for North American companies to do businesses in Latin American countries despite closed borders.

Q: Can you update on UniLink?

Hanvey: The UniLink dataset is available and now includes 96 percent of the 1.4 billion global VIO. The UniLink database contains 23 years of information that is constantly growing and extending and is organised into 16 high-level original equipment manufacturing attributes. Serving as a high-level bridge to ACES so users can see which parts fit with their product portfolio, UniLink allows users to identify new countries, makes and models to sell existing parts already in their portfolio – eliminating redundancies in the supply chain. Aftermarket companies can now determine new markets across the globe for underperforming inventory parts that are sitting and collecting dust in the warehouse and connect product data under a unified platform approach to reduce redundant, time-consuming research and avoid costly errors. Our market feedback tells us that UniLink will help increase sales (five to fifteen percent).

Q: Can you update on Auto Care Association’s working model of the secure vehicle data from OEMs?

Hanvey: Now that we have won the Right to Repair ballot for the second time in Massachusetts, we hope to work with the automakers to implement SVI.

Q: Reports are doing the rounds that with more electronics and software entering cars/trucks, the OEMs might do away with the OBD port and will store data wirelessly, exempting them from the current law. Has the Auto Care Association taken cognisance of this as this move may bother your members / independent repair shops?

Hanvey: The Auto Care Association is aware that the OEMs are currently and actively opposed to allowing third parties to access the data generated by vehicles today and that they are spending millions of dollars to prevent independent repairers and vehicle owners from gaining access to this data. After a decisive victory for the Right to Repair initiative in Massachusetts this November, the public has put the OEMs on notice that they want access to their vehicle data. Should the OEMs move to an entirely cloud-based system and do away with the OBD port on vehicles, we will continue to fight for the rights and abilities of the American people to access their vehicle data and service their cars wherever they see fit.

Q: Can you tell us about your initiatives in building professional skills to your members?

Hanvey: The Auto Care Association’s education resources include networking and conference events, market research reports and analyses, publications, websites, scholarships and a partnership with the University of the Aftermarket, all with the goal of providing continuous professional development opportunities. The Auto Care Association also recognises and celebrates members of our industry each year who go above and beyond to equip their employees with the education and skills they need to be successful in today’s auto care industry through the Automotive Career and Education (ACE) Award.

Q: Can you tell us about the initiatives taken to support the sustainable growth of your industry?

Hanvey: COVID really accelerated a lot of things for the industry. A shift to digital and needing even more data to make better business decisions was crucial the moment our world changed earlier this year. Our industry has always been driven by a commitment to innovation and agility, and this has been an even bigger part of the aftermarket’s identity during the pandemic. We continued to build on our foundation of innovative products and services to keep the supply chain running efficiently, provide dynamic access to the real-time marketplace and help companies run their businesses at top capacity.

Our TrendLens platform, which houses our Demand Index tool is a prime example. The aftermarket needs to know how the changing economic world is impacting their businesses:

• Day to day changes to vehicle miles driven.
• Record highs and lows in temperatures across the US.
• Consumer confidence fluctuations that shift with every news cycle.

Searching for the latest economic and industry data (like the ones mentioned) to help inform business decisions can be frustrating: multiple data sources, inconsistent data, out of date data, and costly subscriptions. We tackle those big questions with TrendLens.

TrendLens puts curated and current interactive industry insights at the fingertips of all of our users. The platform enables users to understand how market influencing factors are affecting the industry with the most complete and up to date data sets available, all in one place with innovative ways to compare and contrast data to give it context.

We accelerated the production timeline of TrendLens by several months in response to the COVID crisis, and it should be an absolutely invaluable tool in the industry’s arsenal. But we took it a step further with Demand Index.

Demand Index lets aftermarket companies compare their performance to the market. It provides sales performance data with both a unit index and dollar index for 38 different product groups, from air filters to shocks and struts, and growing.

More data and better value are provided by the Demand Index than any other tool, and what we’re hearing is that buyers and manufacturers are finally coming to the table and speaking the same language and correlate efforts to ROI thanks to the tool. (MT)

Sunil Koparkar, Managing Director, IAC India, outlines the company’s strategy to reduce customer concentration, expand exports and leverage group synergies following its integration with the Lumax Group.

As India’s automotive interior market evolves towards premiumisation, localisation and faster product cycles, IAC India, part of the Lumax Group, is repositioning itself beyond a single-customer dependency model – without diluting its core partnerships.

IAC India continues to derive a significant share of its revenue from Mahindra’s passenger vehicle business. While the concentration remains high, Koparkar is clear that diversification will be driven through growth rather than dilution.

“Mahindra will always be our primary customer. We have a very strong strategic partnership. But we are also working on expanding with other OEMs and in the commercial vehicle space. Our goal remains a 20 percent CAGR,” he says.

For FY2025, IAC India USD 140 million in revenue, and is targeting a 20 percent growth in FY2026. The company counts Mahindra as its primary customer with almost 78 percent of its business coming from them, while Maruti Suzuki India (12%), Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles (5%), Skoda-Volkswagen (3%) and Stellantis (1%) contribute towards the remaining business.

What’s more, responding to the company’s expansion plans, Koparkar revealed, that IAC Group, in addition to introducing new products, is also in talks with new-age players who have just entered Indian market (and also planning too) for supplying products.

Currently, passenger vehicles account for roughly 90 percent of the business, with commercial vehicles forming the balance. Value-wise, Koparkar expects CV contribution to rise, even if percentage splits remain broadly similar due to the rapid growth of PV volumes.

Responding to a query on the potential growth from the CV segment, Koparkar said, “There is clear potential in CV interiors. As the CV market moves towards more comfortable cabins — with features like airbags, HVAC and infotainment — the opportunity for interior suppliers increases. Through Volvo Eicher, we have already helped drive that trend in India.”

When asked about the company’s expansion plans, Koparkar also stated that IAC Group is open to expanding to new regions as it aims to operate closer to its customers. One of the potential new projects for the company could very well be Chennai, as the company is in early talks with a new CV customer as well as VinFast.

Engineering as a Standalone Growth Lever

A key pillar of IAC India’s strategy is its expanding engineering capability. The company has been scaling up its R&D and product development team and increasingly positioning engineering services as a distinct revenue stream.

The company at present, employs over 300 engineers in India, which it aims to scale it upto 400-plus by next year and 500-plus in the coming few years.

Historically, the Indian Engineering Centre supported the global IAC Group. “We were primarily the IAC Group engineering development centre. We will continue to provide those services. But now, besides global support, we are also offering engineering services to local OEMs,” Koparkar explains.

These services span studio collaboration, basic product design, CAE analysis and prototype development. In some cases, this can potentially evolve into full-scale supply programmes.

Importantly, innovation is now being formalised locally. “This year alone, we are in the process of filing about 30 patents,” he says. Earlier, intellectual property was subsumed under the global entity; now, filings are being initiated in India.

R&D investment remains aligned with group benchmarks at around 1.5–2 percent of revenue.

Exports: Measured Ambition

In terms of export potential, it currently contributes less than 5 percent towards the revenue, primarily through smaller kinematic parts. Direct exposure to the US market is negligible.

“Tariff-related uncertainty does not affect us because we do not export to the US,” Koparkar says. “Logistically, it does not make sense to ship our large interior parts there.”

Europe remains the primary export target. “The opportunity lies in leveraging our design capabilities and local development strengths. If logistics can be managed efficiently, there is room to grow.”

He also sees the Lumax Group’s aftermarket division as a future vehicle for export expansion.

Localisation and Supply Chain Resilience

On the localisation front, IAC India has made significant progress. “Last year was the first time we were able to localise over 99 percent of our tooling and development in India,” Koparkar states. Machinery on shop floors is largely localised, with only certain raw materials still imported.

The semiconductor crisis, he adds, had minimal direct impact. “We do not source electronics for our products — that is handled by the customer. However, from a development perspective, we are evaluating secondary substitutes for imported components, so we are prepared in case of disruptions.”

Premiumisation, Sustainability and AI

Premiumisation is currently the dominant interior trend. “Customers are moving away from basic plastics to more premium-feel interiors. Electronification is a big driver,” Koparkar says.

Sustainability, however, remains nascent in India. “There is no specific push for sustainable materials yet. What OEMs are looking for is lightweighting to meet upcoming CAFE norms. If a sustainable material delivers significant weight reduction, then it becomes serious.”

He points to jute, coir and bamboo fibres as potential alternatives but stresses that ecosystem-level collaboration is essential. “Unless a circular economy develops around us, sustainable materials will struggle to scale.”

On automation, operations across IAC’s six plants are roughly a 50:50 mix of automated and manual processes, depending on volume justification. Cobots and semi-automation are used where full automation does not offer viable returns.

AI, meanwhile, is expected to influence design more than manufacturing. “We see AI helping us accumulate design learnings and reduce design cycle times. Its impact will be more visible in engineering services than on the shop floor.”

Faster Development Cycles

Product life cycles are shrinking rapidly. “It used to take five years to develop a car,” Koparkar reflects. “With the XUV700, we worked with the customer to shrink that to 42 months. EVs are being developed even faster.”

As development timelines compress and interiors become more technology-intensive, IAC India is betting on engineering depth, localisation strength and group synergies to sustain its 20 percent growth ambition – while steadily broadening its customer and geographic footprint

Rosmerta Technologies has launched a comic book titled ‘The Curious Bunch’ at the 3rd Edition of the CII National Conclave on Road Safety. The publication is designed to introduce road safety awareness to children.

The initiative aligns with the Government of India’s ‘4E’ strategy for road safety, which focuses on Engineering, Education, Enforcement and Emergency Care. The comic book aims to address the 168,000 road fatalities reported in India in 2022 by fostering safe habits at a school level.

The comic book uses illustrations to present road scenarios, including pedestrian conduct, school bus safety, traffic signals & the use of helmets, seatbelts and child restraint systems. By educating children, the company intends to influence the behaviour of parents and the wider community.

Rosmerta, a provider of mobility solutions, currently operates technology systems for automated driving tests and AI-based monitoring. The launch of ‘The Curious Bunch’ marks an expansion of its activities into the education pillar of the national safety framework.

Dr Rajesh Mohan, DCP, Gurugram Traffic, said, “When we educate children and instil strong moral and ethical values, the impact travels far beyond the classroom. Children naturally share what they learn. They question, they explain, and they influence conversations at home. In many ways, they become powerful advocates, encouraging their parents to be more aware, more responsible, and more engaged. Over time, this awareness translates into action, because parents are also drivers, commuters, and decision-makers on the road.”

Ravi Krishnamoorthi, Group President, Rosmerta Technologies, said, “Every road accident statistic hides a parent’s anxiety. In 2022 alone, India reported over 168,000 road accident fatalities, according to government data. Road safety is not merely about compliance; it is about compassion and collective responsibility. When a child understands why a red light matters or why a helmet can save a life, they don’t just learn a rule - they become ambassadors of safety within their families and communities. Through ‘The Curious Bunch’, we aim to nurture this awareness early, because the habits we shape in children today will define the safety culture of our nation tomorrow.”

Maruti Suzuki India, in partnership with the Transport Department of Tamil Nadu, has announced the commissioning of seven Automated Driving Test Tracks (ADTTs) in the state. The facilities were inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M K Stalin.

The tracks are located at Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) in Coimbatore (Central), Tiruvannamalai, Krishnagiri, Madurai (North), Sivagangai, Dindigul, and Tiruchirappalli (West). These sites form part of a Memorandum of Agreement to automate ten tracks across the state, with the remaining three at Tirunelveli, Tuticorin and Marthandam scheduled for operation shortly.

The ADTTs are designed to evaluate applicants for two-wheeler and Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) licences. The system removes human intervention from the evaluation process to ensure objective testing according to the Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR).

Key technical components include:

• Video Analytics: High-definition cameras to monitor vehicle movement and path adherence.
• Sensors: Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and Harnessing AutoMobiles for Safety (HAMS) technology.
• Identification: Face-recognition systems to verify candidate identity.
• Results: Integrated IT systems that generate test results automatically based on real-time data.

The carmaker has commissioned 56 ADTTs across eight states, including Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Bihar. Following the completion of agreements with Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh, the company’s footprint is expected to reach 81 tracks nationwide.

Rahul Bharti, Senior Executive Officer, Corporate Affairs, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “As part of Maruti Suzuki’s road safety initiatives implemented across multiple states, we are partnering with the Government of Tamil Nadu to strengthen the driver licensing evaluation process through the deployment of 10 Automated Driving Test Tracks (ADTTs). Equipped with high-definition cameras and advanced analytics, these ADTTs enable a comprehensive, efficient, and transparent assessment process. It eliminates any human bias and ensures that only skilled drivers are awarded a license.”

“According to data shared by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, India witnessed 1.77 lakh road accident deaths in 2024. Promoting disciplined driving practices and ensuring rigorous driver evaluation are vital to prevent road accidents and augment road safety across the country,” he said.

BYD, the world’s leading manufacturer of New Energy Vehicles, will once again serve as the headline sponsor for the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) Annual Dinner in 2026. This marks the third consecutive year the company has supported the prestigious event, which is set to take place on 4 March 2026 at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane, London. The dinner is widely recognised as the premier gathering for professionals across the rental, fleet management and leasing sectors.

Through its ongoing sponsorship since 2024, BYD reaffirms its commitment to this vital segment of the UK automotive market. The company’s expanding presence was underscored in 2025 by the introduction of several new models, including the SEALION 7, DOLPHIN SURF, SEAL 6 Saloon and Touring and the ATTO 2. These launches contributed to significant sales figures, with 21,824 units delivered to fleet customers and 5,964 to the rental sector. The momentum has continued into 2026 with the debut of the SEALION 5 DM-i, while the ATTO 2 DM-i and ATTO 3 EVO are expected to arrive shortly. Supporting this growth is a dedicated UK fleet team of 11 specialists, offering tailored product and service expertise.

The BVRLA represents around 1,000 member organisations, ranging from SMEs to large public companies, all operating within or alongside the UK’s vehicle rental and leasing industries. By engaging with government and upholding professional standards, the association enables its members to provide safe, sustainable and accessible transport solutions. This year’s Annual Dinner will feature the presentation of the Industry Hero Awards and live entertainment from award-winning comedian Tom Ward, celebrating excellence across the sector.