Q: How will synchronisation take place?

Raghavan: There are three significant areas where synchronisation will happen. One is on the supply chain, second on digital solution portfolios, and the third is the common process and policies of franchisees management and marketing. At least, in the short term, both companies will keep their own brand identities.

Q: Multi-brand car service is yet to become a profitable business in India. What does make you so bullish on the industry?

Raghavan: Profitability must be looked in a time perspective. It (multi-brand car service) is a very nascent business in India. It captures three things. One you have to change the cultural behaviour of the garages so all entrepreneurial will work. Second, you need to improve the productivity through adoption of technologies which the industry has not been using, and the third is you should able to have your supply chain right so that you can deliver spare parts on-demand at the reasonable costs. These all three elements, TVS has done in its ASPL businesses. Having the background of spare parts business, TVS ASPL has established a parts supply-chain to take a leadership position in however the small market it is as of now.

We strongly believe the three competencies - digital technology, parts and digital marketing, drive businesses and bring profitability in the garages. TVS ASPL has achieved profitability in that part of the business.

Q: Procurement of spare parts is the biggest challenge in the business? How do you deal with this challenge?

Raghavan: The focus is to access to spare parts. Your knowledge of parts says what are the choices of parts available. TVS has been historically in spare parts business so we have digitised and developed one of its kinds of catalogue which automatically cross-checks the differences to make the model engine and then which are the alternative parts you can use. The knowledge is very critical if you want to supply parts within committed time.

Q: What about investment in digital marketing and digitisation in the business?

Raghavan: It is city-wise; you need to determine where do you want to invest based upon your requirements. With this acquisition, once you got pan India coverage, your marketing costs and transactions get reduced drastically because the cost gets covered in wider geographic coverage and larger interest.

Q: Did you see an increase in the business post lockdown?

Raghavan: I will put into two different angles. If you ask if the business has come back to the pre-COVID stage, I will say yes. If asked, whether the business has been affected by COVID, I would say yes, it has been impacted at a large extent.

We strongly believe in developing an ecosystem where you will be able to help when there are growth opportunities. For example, for some of the franchisees, we have worked with NBFCs and banking to offer financial services and solutions. I would say, the business has come back to the pre COVID stage, but there are exceptions. The white-collar workforce, which is mostly not going to the office but working from home, so to that extent, the service and parts business of ours come down. But the two-wheeler business has picked up and is growing much faster than the pre- COVID stage. Making this business organised and lending to the brand name to it gives more confidence to customers to go to these franchisees for incremental services.

Q: How is the partnership with Google shaping up?

Raghavan: Google partnership is live. The ease of digital adaptation has increased, so I do not have to go physically to roll out solutions to garages. They can download from google and implement it. We have moved all our solutions on google cloud, and by January, our marketplace should be up for google. Any retailers or garages can download our digital solution and start implementing it.

Q: What is the role of digitalisation in aftermarket business?

Raghavan: Digitalisation can be looked at from three perspectives. One is as enablement through digital technologies. Garages can have our service management platforms and keep tracking the consumers’ behaviour, such as what repairs he did. The second, we have developed the AI algorithm to find what kind of services the customers need. Instead of recommending service for the core vehicle, can he replace his clutch or overhaul his air-conditioner or he should replace his brake pads. That’s where we can drive more trust of customers that I am monitoring the health of your vehicle. The third one is getting the vehicle diagnosed first time right. (MT)

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Mumbai-headquartered engineering major Greaves Cotton has incorporated a wholly-owned subsidiary, Greaves International Trading FZE (GITFZE), in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The subsidiary will function as a hub for trading and distribution, aiming to increase the company’s presence in the Middle East and Africa.

The subsidiary will manage business development, customer engagement, technical support, channel partnerships, aftermarket services and supply chain coordination. Its portfolio will include diesel engines, gensets and powertrain solutions.

Greaves International Trading FZE  will initially target GCC markets, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain, with subsequent expansion planned for the Levant and Africa.

Parag Satpute, MD & Group CEO, Greaves Cotton, said, “International Business is a key growth driver for Greaves and a core pillar of our GREAVES.NEXT strategy. In line with our strategic roadmap, its contribution increased from 9 percent to 13 percent in FY2026. The establishment of Greaves International Trading FZE marks a significant step in strengthening our presence across the Middle East and Africa. It enhances our ability to respond with agility to market needs, deepen customer engagement and deliver reliable, future-ready solutions. This is a focused move towards expanding our global footprint and driving sustained, long-term growth.”

The establishment of GITFZE is part of the company's strategy to scale its footprint and export capabilities.

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Stellantis, one of the leading automotive groups, has announced appointments within its Enlarged Europe organisation, effective 1 July 2026.

The company has announced that Santo Ficili has been appointed the CEO of the Maserati brand, while continuing his role as CEO of Alfa Romeo. In addition, Luca Napolitano has been appointed Head of Stellantis &You Sales and Services.

These appointments follow the departure of Jean-Philippe Imparato, who is leaving the company after 36 years.

Emanuele Cappellano, COO, Enlarged Europe & European Brands and Head of Stellantis Pro One, said, “I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Jean-Philippe for his unparalleled contribution to our Company, in which he spent his entire professional life. Jean-Philippe has been a true example of how to combine passion with business, inspiring people with his daily commitment and deep knowledge of the automotive industry. I congratulate on their appointments Santo and Luca, who are already fully operational within Maserati and Stellantis &You organisations and will ensure continuity in these key areas. Their experience and leadership will be crucial in this new stage of growth.”

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Tata Motors has entered into a memorandum of understanding with Castrol India to launch a pilot programme focused on establishing a circular economy for used engine oil. The initiative directly supports India’s Extended Producer Responsibility regulations while addressing the environmental challenges posed by lubricant waste.

The collaboration will create a structured and traceable system for the collection, storage and channelling of used oil originating from Tata Motors’ authorised service network. Operations for this pilot are specifically centred in Karnataka, targeting a longstanding gap in the responsible handling of this hazardous material.

Under the programme, Tata Motors’ service touchpoints in the state will function as designated collection hubs. Castrol India will leverage its technical expertise to oversee the delivery of the recovered oil to registered recyclers, ensuring rigorous quality control and traceability throughout the recycling chain.

This partnership extends the companies’ established relationship and reinforces their mutual dedication to sustainability. The pilot complements Tata Motors’ wider strategy of promoting alternative-energy vehicles while supporting Castrol India’s objective of integrating recycled content into its premium lubricant offerings.

Vikram Agrawal, Head – Spares and Non-Vehicle Business, Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles, said, “Responsible used-oil management is central to building a truly circular automotive ecosystem in India. The volume of used engine oil generated across India’s roads each year makes responsible collection and recycling a matter of significant environmental consequence. By partnering with Castrol India, we are creating a credible, scalable model that links responsible collection at our service touchpoints to high-quality re-refined output. This is a meaningful step in Tata Motors’ broader sustainability journey.”

Anoop Jindal, Vice President – B2B (OEM) Sales, Castrol India Limited, said, “Creating a circular economy for lubricants requires collaboration across the entire value chain. This association with Tata Motors marks our first OEM collaboration focused on building a structured ecosystem for responsible used-oil management in India. We are working to strengthen every link in the circularity chain, from collection and channelisation to recycling and reuse. Insights from our used-oil collection pilots in southern India have deepened our understanding of both the opportunities and challenges involved in scaling circularity. Together with Tata Motors’ extensive service network, this initiative can help create a more organised, traceable and scalable model for used-oil circularity in India.”

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French automotive major Renault Group has appointed Quitterie de Pelleport as General Secretary, effective from 1 July 2026. The new division will oversee Legal, Audit, Risk, Ethics & Compliance, Prevention and Protection, Sustainability, Strategic Partnerships, Defence activities and the Circular Economy unit ‘The Future Is Neutral’.

The company also announced the appointment of Sandra Gomez as Chief Product & Program Officer and Francois Lavernos as Chief Information & Digital Officer. Both will report to CEO Francois Provost, who will oversee strategy and the futuREady product plan.

Francois Provost, said, “Four months after the launch of our futuREady plan, we are continuing the transformation of Renault Group with a clear focus on simplification and speed of execution. The creation of the General Secretariat is a key lever to strengthen our governance and our capacity to deliver on our ambitions. This role will also contribute to the development of certain high-potential activities. I have every confidence in Quitterie to lead this strategic function. At the same time, we are simplifying the scope of product, programs and strategy to accelerate the strengthening of our vehicle range and technologies.”

Pelleport joined Renault Group in 2021 as Chief Legal Officer. Her career includes roles at Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel, DLA Piper, Rhodia and Solvay.

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