The Hindu Business Line : Castrol renews contract with Tata Motors, rejigs brand portfolio

The Castrol India Vice-President (Marketing), Mr Sudhanshu Vats, told newspersons that the company had signed a fresh five-year contract with Tata Motors for supplying its products.

He said Castrol had also rejigged its portfolio, reclassifying a few products. It also plans to launch two new brands for the passenger car and the two-wheeler markets.

Mr Vats said the brands had been classified into three main categories that include the passenger car, motorcycle and commercial vehicle segments that will also have sub-categories for diesel brands. Castrol will shortly introduce Castrol Edge and Motor Oil in the passenger car segment. It recently introduced a two-wheeler oil brand.

He said Castrol's share in the market had grown to around 30 per cent from around 26 per cent in the last three years. "We expect to see far rapid growth now," Mr Vats said.

The size of the retail automobile segment for lubricants is around 880 million litres per annum and is worth Rs 7,000 crore. Castrol's largest brand — CRB in the commercial vehicle segment — sells 50 million litres per annum.

Castrol Bike Zones, which are branded motorcycle servicing centres, will be expanded and nine more will be launched in Chennai and Bangalore in the next one year. There are around 16 such servicing centres. The company plans to open such centres in two more cities soon.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page