MOTORINDIA’s Conference on ‘Future-ready Aftermarket’
India’s automotive aftermarket is moving beyond basic mechanical repairs and entering a new technology-driven phase and workshops now need to handle electronics, EV systems, software diagnostics, and rising customer expectations, Mr. Vikrampati Singhania, President, ACMA and Vice Chairman & MD, JK Fenner (India), has said.
Addressing the inaugural session of the conference on ‘Future-Ready Aftermarket’, organised by MOTORINDIA and AFTERMARKET & SERVICE, Mr. Singhania said, this shift comes as India’s vehicle parc crosses 300 million and the aftermarket grows steadily as a multi-billion-dollar industry.
Globally, the aftermarket is nearly a $1 trillion sector, and India’s growth is driven by longer vehicle life cycles, safety awareness, and demand for quality service. But the industry faces challenges — skill shortages, counterfeit parts, supply disruptions, higher operating costs, and intense price pressure. Customers also want digital convenience, transparent pricing, and faster service. Overall, the aftermarket’s future will depend on how well it adapts to technology, builds skills, and delivers better customer experience. Early adopters will lead the next phase of growth. He appreciated MOTORINDIA’s efforts in organising the conference on aftermarket – a key pillar of the automotive ecosystem.
Delivering the keynote address, Mr. S. Muralidharan, Chairman – ASPA & Mobility Aftermarket, said India’s automotive aftermarket is going through a major transformation as the vehicle market becomes larger, more complex, and more digital. With vehicle numbers tripling in 15 years and new technologies like EVs and hybrids entering the mix, workshops and suppliers must adapt quickly.
Consumer expectations are also changing. Buyers across India—from newly rising households to affluent customers—now want high quality, smart features and even instant delivery of auto parts. Vehicle ownership has spread to over 500 districts, making traditional distribution models outdated. Auto parts today move like FMCG goods, supported by fast e-commerce and quick-delivery networks. At the same time, sales jobs are shifting toward digital communication, while AI is beginning to handle tasks such as catalogue search, repair guidance and pricing information.
Delivering the special address, Mr. Rama Shankar Pandey, Mentor – ACMA Aftermarket, ED – Paracoat & Co-founder – Autoverse Mobility, said, the industry must focus on organisation, standardisation and digitisation to match global standards. Counterfeit parts remain a big issue, making up about 20% of the market. He stressed that both OEM and independent aftermarket parts are genuine and that awareness is needed to avoid confusion.
He also noted India’s growing role as a global supplier, thanks to shifts in world trade, and praised rising professionalism. Future growth, he said, will be driven by technology-led supply chains, strong categories like tyres, batteries and lubricants, and the rising importance of technicians and workshops.
The Right to Repair movement, increasing collaboration among OEMs and independent players, and higher investment in quality were identified as important for the industry’s future.
Following the inaugural session there were two panel discussions – “Preparing India’s Automotive Aftermarket for Next-Gen Vehicles,” and “Managing Digital Transformation in the evolving tech era.”
Panelists in the conference included:
Mr. Varun Suri, Deputy General Manager, Mercedes Benz Research & Development India
Mr. Ashish Srivastava, General Manager – Commercial Vehicle Parts Sales, ZF Commercial Vehicle Solutions India
Mr. Sai Giridhar, Vice President – Federation of Automobile Dealers Association
Mr. Vikas Gupta, CEO, NPL
Mr. Ritunch Gupta, VP – Sales & Marketing – Aftermarket, Banco Products
Mr. Ashim Sharma, Senior Partner, NRI Consulting & Solutions
Mr. Rakesh Kher, CEO – Aftermarket, UNO Minda
Mr. S Sujit Nayak, VP and Head of Friction & Aftermarket Business Unit, Brakes India
Mr. V. Narayanan, Assistant VP and Head of Sales & Marketing for the AFM Product Division, Rane
Mr. Onur Ozyapici, VP – Automotive Aftermarket, Indian Subcontinent, Middle East, Africa and Turkey, Mann & Hummel
Mr. Phillip J. Hess, Global Sales Director, Bilstein Group
Mr. Gautam Khanduja, President, Mansons International
