The Schaeffler Group, a leading global integrated automotive and industrial supplier, has introduced its Ruville dealer brand in India.

Schaeffler Automotive Aftermarket, with its three product brands LuK, INA and FAG Schaeffler, is a specialist supplier of components and services around the drivetrain in passenger cars and commercial vehicles: from the engine over the accessory drive and the transmission to the chassis. Schaeffler Automotive Aftermarket supplies the automotive replacement parts market with spare parts for the drivetrain, engine and suspension – for all vehicle classes and in genuine OE quality.

Speaking to Autocar Professional at the ACMA Automechanika New Delhi aftermarket trade fair which opened today at Pragati Maidan, company officials say Schaeffler will use its recently launched online garage and dealer portal – RepXpert – to apprise customers about details of products, features and repair solutions. For the Indian market, RepXpert will be launched in August 2015, first in English and then in four Indian languages by December 2015.

Initially, Schaeffler plans to launch steering and suspension assembly comprising 182 parts under the Ruville brand, followed by disc brake pads after two months. The company says that at present 18-20 percent of the components in the Indian aftermarket comprise Schaeffler products; by the year 2022, it is targeting 50 percent of vehicle parts in the aftermarket.

Under Ruville, it is looking to bring the chain drive system by September 2015. Under the Schaeffler FAG brand, in the next couple of years, it is actively considering introducing wheel bearing kits, wheel discs and grease for India while the INA brand will introduce 48 tensioners for passenger cars in the next three months. Meanwhile, the LuK brand, which currently has 70 percent coverage in tractor and clutch assemblies (for tractor-trailers and agricultural tractors), aims to achieve 90 percent coverage in the sector.

Under the chassis, engine and transmission sector, the company’s plan is to bring 20 percent parts from steering and suspension category from Europe and 80 percent buying local suppliers, thereby increasing local content and keeping costs low.

Schaeffler India officials say in the past six years, the Indian aftermarket has had a CAGR of 26 percent and this year the company is looking at 14-15 percent across all three brands.  

There are a number of reasons for Schaeffler Group’s optimistic outlook for India, more so the buoyant two-wheeler sector. Being the second largest two-wheeler market in the world with an annual production of 18 million units per annum of which more than 90 percent are below 150c, there is a requirement for high performance with benchmark cost. Schaeffler India says it has a comprehensive INA, FAG and LuK product portfolio to cater to this sector. With the development of an engineering hub for motorcycles below 150cc, Schaeffler is understood to be working on a concept bike with new products such as wet clutch, one-way clutch and low friction ball bearings.