Bosch targets car and two-wheeler workshops

Bosch India’s Automotive Service Solutions and Aftermarket division of Bosch India was an exhibitor at Tyre Expo 2016 for the first time earlier this month.

It displayed its range of products in the test equipment space mainly targeted at car workshops in addition to two-wheeler garages. 

For car workshops, the company’s products revolve around tools and equipment needed for repair like testers, aligners, balancers, changers and also diagnostics. The entire range of tyre services including wheel alignment, balancing and changing can be undertaken with this equipment.

With this product line, Bosch is looking at making a dent in the tyre industry that has been growing between 4-8 percent annually. Abhijit Kallianpur, senior GM, Automotive Service Solutions and Aftermarket, Bosch India (pictured below), told Autocar Professional that the latest trend is of tyre retailers forming tyre chains and offering vast services encompassing sale of batteries, air- conditioning services and parts in addition to tyres that offer a large business opportunity for companies like Bosch for providing tools and equipment.

Bosch is developing its expertise in this segment and facilitating tyre retailers to expand into  diagnostics, AC services and nitrogen tyre inflators. This would also enable the retail network to earn more. “We are looking at taking electronic diagnostics to the tyre shops; some of the retailers would typically have puncture shops and be selling new tyres. They can undertake fitting and balancing of tyres as well,” said Kallianpur.

With technology entering the realm of tyres, the tyre pressure monitoring system involves the use of electronics. Electronic diagnostics can communicate to a car’s ECU and identify problems, troubleshoot, read the error code and help service faster and get it right first time.

Bosch entered into tyre service equipment two years ago and expanded in around-the-wheel equipment, battery service and AC services.

Further tyre chains are increasingly getting into air-conditioning service machines crucial for keeping the environment clean. These machines are able to recover the refrigerant, bring it back to the virgin state and recharge it, thereby reducing carbon emissions.

Bosch also displayed a handheld device that uses a laptop or computer and allows the tyre shop to work through it to transition from doing purely mechanical work into electronics.

Kallianpur says tyre puncture shops can start off with a battery tester that costs between Rs 40,000-50,000 and could use electronics diagnostics as well. With this, an operator can  make a leap into something he has not done and simultaneously skill himself. The more organised workshops can buy the entire range of test and diagnostic equipment that would enable them to offer a comprehensive service including body shop repairs. 

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