Philippe Colpron, Executive Vice President of ZF’s aftermarket division, sees India evolving into an increasingly important market for software-enabled aftermarket services, as connected vehicles, diagnostics, fleet uptime and EV servicing begin reshaping the country’s automotive service ecosystem.

Speaking during a media interaction, Colpron said India’s rapidly evolving mobility landscape, growing infrastructure and increasing vehicle complexity were creating new opportunities for the aftermarket business beyond conventional mechanical repairs.  

The executive, who recently visited India, said the country continues to stand out not only for its scale and economic growth but also for its emergence as a major global digital and engineering hub. “India continues to surprise as being really this very strong country, not just in terms of culture and people but also in terms of the economy,” Colpron said.  

He added that the increasing movement from smaller vehicles to larger and more sophisticated mobility platforms, coupled with expanding highway infrastructure and rising inter-city transportation, was driving greater demand for safety, diagnostics and uptime management solutions.

According to Colpron, software and connectivity are expected to fundamentally alter how aftermarket servicing functions in the years ahead. “All repairs, even a mechanical repair, will be blocked or unblocked with your ability to leverage software,” he said.  

Connected Fleets and Uptime Management

Colpron said connected vehicle penetration in India has been rising rapidly, particularly in the commercial vehicle segment, with fleet operators increasingly looking at uptime optimisation, remote diagnostics and safety-focused telematics solutions.

He noted that ZF already has nearly three decades of experience in connected fleet management globally, particularly in Europe’s truck and trailer ecosystem, and has gradually expanded those capabilities across buses and lighter commercial vehicles.

India, he said, is becoming an important part of that broader connected mobility ecosystem, with Bengaluru emerging as one of the company’s key technology hubs supporting connected vehicle applications and cloud-based fleet services globally.   “We have seen the penetration of connected vehicles through the OEMs rapidly rising in the last five years,” Colpron said.  

He added that the company’s immediate focus was no longer just about introducing connected technologies, but about increasing the real-world usage and effectiveness of those systems in improving aftermarket operations and fleet efficiency.

“We need to focus not on introduction of technology, but on the usage and acceleration of penetration,” he said.  

Colpron also highlighted applications such as trailer telematics and electronic braking systems used in hazardous goods transportation, where connected systems can improve fleet safety and operational monitoring.

At a broader level, he said aftermarket businesses globally are gradually moving towards a more data-led operating environment where diagnostics, predictive servicing and digital workflow integration become central to vehicle uptime management.

EVs Reshape Workshop Ecosystem

The transition towards electric mobility is also expected to significantly alter workshop operations and servicing requirements, according to Colpron. He said the rise of electric vehicles is forcing workshops to prepare for high-voltage systems, software integration and diagnostics-heavy repair environments, even for relatively simple maintenance procedures.

“The EV vehicles will have a high impact somehow in the life of how the repairs and maintenance is happening,” he said.  

According to Colpron, workshops that fail to adapt to electric vehicle servicing risk losing relevance as EV penetration rises. “If the mechanic says ‘it’s an electric vehicle, I don’t touch’, he loses the full business of tomorrow,” he said.  

He explained that even basic repairs on EVs may increasingly require diagnostic resets or software-enabled procedures before vehicles can return to operation.

As part of its aftermarket preparation efforts, ZF has been expanding its ProTech workshop ecosystem in India, which now includes more than 400 ProTech workshops focused on training, diagnostics and technical support.  

Colpron said workshop preparedness would become increasingly important as software-defined vehicles, advanced electronics and connected systems become more mainstream across vehicle categories.

Passenger Vehicle Aftermarket Gains Pace

While ZF has historically maintained a stronger presence in India’s commercial vehicle aftermarket through brands such as Wabco, Colpron said the passenger vehicle aftermarket business was now accelerating rapidly. 

He added that the company has been increasing vehicle parc coverage across product categories while also investing in localisation to improve competitiveness in the Indian market. “We’re also investing in further localisation in our own production for some of the products to gain competitiveness,” Colpron said.  

The company currently operates 19 manufacturing plants and engineering centres in India, employing around 16,000 people across its businesses. Colpron described India as both a strategic domestic market and a global capability base for ZF. “It’s been our home for over 60 years,” he said.  

He added that the company’s broader strategy remains centred on supporting distributors, workshops and aftermarket partners with product range expansion, diagnostics capability, training and digital tools aimed at improving profitability and long-term business sustainability.

Looking ahead, Colpron said software, telematics, diagnostics and connected mobility services would increasingly become intertwined with traditional aftermarket operations. “We will help our partners find their way on how to monetise it,” he said.