The Indian automotive industry provides a lucrative proposition for investment. Automotive retailers form a critical aspect of the value chain since they are the single touch point, based on which customers perceive the brand and experience the product.

Continental recently observed the groundbreaking ceremony of its greenfield powertrain Plant in Talegaon, Pune. APF’s Neellohit Banerjee caught up with Prashanth Doreswamy, Market Head, Continental India and, Managing Director, Continental Automotive India after the press conference.

The second half of 2018, the automotive industry witnessed abruption of demand due to factors like high fuel prices, exchange rates, markets volatility and reduction of available finances.

Improved economic activity, higher construction and road infrastructure development and improvement in mining activities helped India's commercial vehicles industry register its highest sales performance in 2017-18.

OEM specifications and government regulations are increasingly directing the auto industry towards more fuel-efficient lubricants.

Fortunes of metalworking sector are closely linked to automotive industry's performance as auto and auto components industry reportedly account for 60 per cent of the machine tools consumption in India.

High cost, range anxiety and lack of charging infrastructure are some of the well-known hindrances in the wide-scale adoption of electric vehicles (EVs)

Rising vehicle ownership levels, incorporation of advanced engine, continuous growth in investment in infrastructure projects, robust two-wheeler sales, increase in number of women driving scooters, etc

With the increase in speed limits, the requirement for advanced braking system has also increased, as India ranks among the top countries in road accidents