At Automechanika Delhi 2026, powered by ACMA, the spotlight was firmly on India's fast-changing automotive aftermarket. In a landscape shaped by EVs, digitisation, new powertrains and rising consumer expectations, Uno Minda Aftermarket stands as one of the leading forces driving structured, safety-led growth.
In this special AutoMate CXO conversation, Siddhartha Sharma speaks with Rakesh Kher, CEO - Aftermarket Division and Group Chief Strategy Officer, Uno Minda, to decode the future of Aftermarket 2.0.
Siddhartha Sharma: India's automotive accessory and aftermarket segment is transforming rapidly. With new technologies and alternative fuel vehicles coming in loaded with electronics, how do you see the future taking shape?
Rakesh Kher: The theme at Automechanika this year - Ensuring the Future: Aftermarket 2.0 - captures where the industry is heading. We're transitioning from a traditional, largely unorganised Aftermarket 1.0 model to a more structured, innovation-driven 2.0 phase. The market is growing at 8 to 10 percent, which is healthy, and competition is increasing every year.
This competition is pushing players to innovate, re-engineer their products and meet rising consumer expectations.
Siddhartha Sharma: What are the biggest forces driving this transformation?
Rakesh Kher: Three major factors.First, technological advancements - EVs, hybrids, CNG, and new-age ICE powertrains are changing vehicle behaviour and maintenance needs. Second, consumer expectations are evolving far more quickly than before. Third, efficiency - supply chain speed, availability, and service reliability - matters more now.
Across all of this, digitalisation is the single biggest enabler. Every aftermarket player needs to shift from traditional models to digital-first models to stay relevant.
Siddhartha Sharma: Which segments or technologies do you believe will define the next wave of growth for the Indian aftermarket?
Rakesh Kher: It ultimately depends on what the vehicle park on Indian roads looks like. Today ICE engines still dominate. EVs are growing rapidly - particularly two-wheelers and buses. CNG remains strong. The aftermarket will evolve based on this mixed vehicle ecosystem.
Once clearer adoption trends emerge, the aftermarket will align itself accordingly to serve that demand.
Siddhartha Sharma: There's a common belief that the Indian consumer is still very price-sensitive. How do you see that behaviour shifting?
Rakesh Kher: In the last five years, we've seen a clear shift. Affordability is no longer the only factor. Consumers want safety, trust, quality, and brand reliability.
E-commerce is driving transparency and availability, and consumers prefer products that offer long-term value and safety rather than simply the lowest price.
Siddhartha Sharma: Road safety has become a national priority. What is Uno Minda doing to champion that cause in the aftermarket space?
Rakesh Kher: You may find this surprising, but we are likely the only company proactively fighting unsafe, counterfeit automotive parts in a systematic way.
Nearly 80 percent of accidents linked to aftermarket parts happen because of substandard, locally produced components.
We conduct raids throughout the year, targeting manufacturers of such unsafe products at the source - the manufacturing stage, not at the retail end.
We've built a strong mechanism to help ensure such violators are penalised and kept out of the ecosystem.
It's our firm belief that consumers must use original, certified, high-quality parts manufactured to strict specifications to stay safe on the road.
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Siddhartha Sharma: Counterfeit parts also mean fake warranty claims. How do you address that?
Rakesh Kher: Yes, we see fake warranty claims coming in through distribution channels. Our internal analyses often show compromised specifications and deliberate cost-cutting by counterfeit manufacturers.
Critical systems like braking and lighting are the most affected - and these are exactly where safety matters the most.
So we prioritise aggressive action against such malpractices and work to educate consumers about the dangers.
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Uno Minda's approach - combining safety, digital transformation and strict action against counterfeits - positions it as a leader in shaping the future of Aftermarket 2.0. As India moves towards EVs, connected mobility and next-gen technologies, the aftermarket ecosystem must evolve responsibly and rapidly. Uno Minda's strategies point towards a future where trust, safety and innovation define consumer experience.