According to the news, multibrand car servicing business is unorganized and mostly roadside workshops in India. There is a huge potential of car serviceing business which is estimated Rs. 20,000 Crore (Source TOI)

Take an example of Google search, it is based on that only. Display of button saying “I am feeling lucky” makes it more clear the purpose. There are many web portals and directories. Are all doing well? The challenge is not in building a directory, validating data on regular basis is important.

The car workshop owners who use a multibrand strategy develop more business than others who are single brand authorized one. Recently i visited to a multibrand workshop who has large space and has authorization from Castrol and Bosch. Castrol India is establishing network of pit stops to add value to car owners with "preventive maintenance" products. Bosch India is a leading supplier of technology and add values to customer with "spare parts" and train mechanics for the technology.

Servicing multiple brands enable car workshops to give choices to car owners with quality products and respond to consumer demand for new brands.

Multi-brand service centres have a significant presence in developed economies, but you can see recent trends in India. It has been noticed that car owners look for alternative after the warranty period. Even the spare parts cost remains the same, but labour cost cheaper than OEM service centres.


According to the report - The Hindu, the multi-brand car service market is estimated at about Rs 13,500 crore with 6.5 million cars and current volumes, vehicle manufacturers who service the cars during two-year warranty period will have to maintain about 2.5 million cars during the warranty period. (Read more -Report - The Hindu)

Recent report shows that there are prospects of growth for the Indian auto industry because the country has a middle class larger than the population of the US and a much lower vehicle population as compared to other developed nations. Car manufacturer are targeting people with launch of small cars and affordable to middle class man. Nano sets an example. With the recent global developments, there is a significant opportunity for the Indian auto industry to grow. (Report)

With increase in vehicles, car manufacturer need to look at after sales market. Large companies are planning to enter car servicing industry. Mahindra and Mahindra and Reliance Industries Limited has such plans for car business. Carnation The ex-Maruti Suzuki MD, Jagdish Khattar company, has opened multi-brand workshops in India. Bosch Ltd. has 260 multibrand car service centres in India. The company has announced to open more car workshops to make it total 500 all over India by 2010.

Existing car workshops are finding innovative process to improve the customer experience. Recently Ford India has introduced "Quick Service Station" in Gurgaon to give comfort to customer for quick service.

The car industry in India is demanding better after-sales support and there is large customer base with promising potential in this segment.

MeriCAR.com is developed to help car owners to make "easy" contact with car workshops for after sales servicing using web and mobile technology.

I asked this question to everybody who wanted to know about MeriCAR. I usually get following replies.

Nowadays when i get a spare time, i just throw questions in different forums to get views what car owners think about Multibrand workshops and Specialized OEM Authorized workshops. Here are some comments i have for visitors. Hope this would help while choosing between 2.

Comment 1. > According to my personal opinion the one good thing about the independents (multibrand), if it is a real good shop, then you can develop more of a family relationship with them. The more likely a customer will choose to pay the higher price from a franchised dealer (authorized service center) for that "peace of mind" of having the work done by OEM-backed professionals --and the work covered by the manufacturer guarantee.

Comment 2: For multi brand and specialized car workshop same as two side of coin 

OEM : Authorized Workshop have load on Free Service Cars & have all quality parts & technology for their range of cars.

Multi Brand Workshop : Only Post warranty customer come.  OEM can definitely charge higher price where as Multi brand can give you nice customer experience.

Comment 3: I think Multibrand can also do well in "technology" if they are Authorized one like BOSCH Service Centers. In India BOSCH Ltd. bringing same concept for 500 workshops by next year and presently there are 260 garages/workshops all over India.

Bosch Ltd. has 260 multibrand car service centres in India. The company has announced to open more car workshops to make it total 500 all over India by 2010.

Last year a survey by Bain & Co. (US), suggested that automakers can improve their business performance by focusing more on the customers they already have in these tough times for the industry. Source says, one of the most powerful techniques for converting buyers into die-hard fans is providing exceptional after-sales service. (Source: Businessweek)

In India, similar efforts are being done by different manufacturers but after-sales-services are still pathetic. The buyers do not get proper services at critical time when they need it. Some comments from Indian car buyers are:

"The car is excellent, I have no doubt about it. The only thing that is stopping me from buying this model is its bad reputation about its "after sales service". (read more similar comments here)

Manufacturer needs to focus on after sales services. It helps sustain car manufacturer’s loyalty. They need to be in contact with customer at critical time when most people are weighing their next vehicle purchase. (as source says).

Excellent service not only reinforces relationships with customers who already feel loyal to a brand. It can also defuse ill will that causes disaffected customers to bad-mouth the brand.

There are some recent news of improvement from some manufacturers. Ford India has introduced "Quick Service Station" in Gurgaon to give comfort to customer for quick service. BMW India opens service outlet in Coimbatore. BMW India will further expand operations in 10 additional cities by end of 2010 (source: The Financial Express).

The Indian car industry which has recorded a negative growth till January 2009 (report), but large companies have been realizing the potential in after-sales service car industry in India.

MeriCAR is running a Summer campaign for car owners. This is our offline campaign for the same reason - AWARENESS and CHOICES. I personally visited to different places to talk to car owners. Below are some of the comments

My car is serviced by the same car dealer for last 2 years and i never asked if my car done it properly with best price because i do not know if there is another best dealer in my neighborhood...

I only knew one dealer who sold me the car and i like MeriCAR concept of giving chocies.

To keep my passion alive, it is always important for me to know that "People Believe In MeriCAR". Many new car workshops are opening and old ones are closing. This is business cycle in the same industry. We are promoting few car dealers in Gurgaon. On the first day of campaign, there was very good response and the best part is some of them already got car services done from our dealers member.

We are trying our best efforts to create awareness of "car workshops" online and offline.

In this campaign, car owners can avail following car servicing offers:
Roof Drycleaning,
AC Check up,
Complete Car Wash,
10% on Denting and painting,
15% running repairs,
50% Rubbing and polishing
Any car owners can contact MeriCAR for FREE and Discounted Offers.

Leaving car at workshop, rushing to the office in the morning, following up with the car dealers for the whole day and get it back before closing of the workshop . Looking at the bill and the work done, you are not satisfied with the car dealer.... This is what you can call it “car servicing in India”. It is a painful experience in India. (Most of the cases).

It is common to have this experience because car owners have: (1). No choice to find another best dealer. (2). No easy way to contact other car dealers.

MeriCAR is doing an effort to make car servicing booking comfortable by booking it online using Web Forms and Mobile/SMS. Car owners receive call from car dealers and can choose car dealer of their choice. Most of the dealers who have “pick and drop” services are getting selected.

People do not remember his car service due date, because it is a painful experience and like bitter medicine. I must say, this would be a revolution if all car owners visit to car dealer on his car service due date. It needs regular reminders.

That is another good effort MeriCAR would be doing using web-based software. It would keep reminding car owners to take care of their car with regular and in-time check up.

When everbody have mobile and access to Internet in India, car dealers can not avoid use of technology for car servicing booking.

MeriCAR has taken initiative to bring "web" and "mobile" together for car dealers for advance car servicing booking. MeriCAR focuses car care services. In India, Internet penetration is less in small cities, but mobile is everywhere, so we integrated mobile with web application for quick enquiry.

MeriCAR Recommendation is another good feature to give fair chance to every car dealer to get enquires from car owners randomly. Big car dealer normally asked me why they need MeriCAR when they have "enough of customers". I say " you need it to retain your customer".

Nowadays users want "ease and comfort" with use of technology to book car servicing rather wasting time calling dealers. Moreover MeriCAR also plays important role sending reminders for next car service due.

"I used to visit same car service dealer for long time even it is far away from my location and i have another popular car service dealer just next to my house. This is because i bought my car from the same company...." said one car owner. He explained me that he has recently visited to car dealer nearby when he was unsatisfied from the older one.

Even they are not bound to visit to same car dealer, but they do not know if any other dealer exists in the same area. I call it "default setting" of people's mind set, it is just an habit to visit to known one, irrespective of quality of services.

Use of "web" and "mobile" are New Trends. Car owners have technology to find the right dealer for their car servicing.  In the coming years, customer would have more choices and every business needs to improve their services for customer. MeriCAR.com is an effort toward the same.

MeriCAR.com is a revolutionary concept to give car owners choices to find the right car workshop and to provide comfort to book car servicing with just a click online.

I wish all car owners Happy New Year !!!

Enjoy Car Servicing Booking.

An economic slowdown has its upside, that is - Consumer is king (HT19Dec). It is well said that now every business is focused to give best services to customer. MeriCAR has recently launched new feature- MeriCAR Recommendation.

MeriCAR Recommendation is a choice for customer while sending enquiry to car workshop. Recommedation option says 'I want MeriCar to help..'. Now customer has option to ask MeriCAR to help sending enquiry to any car dealer. The customer has also choice to select his favourite car dealer, that is old feature saying 'i want to select dealer myself'.

Recommendation is the best option for users who are migrated from other state or who need change.

Dealers have the best platform for giving old customer a new tool to send enquiry which is made quick to reach by just an SMS and an email. Anther advantage is new customer who are re-located.

PRESS:PRESS:

Gurgaon 16 Dec.2008:
MeriCAR.com, an online car servicing web portal, is now associated with ValueFirst for providing facilities to car owners to send enquiries using Mobile Messaging. With MeriCAR.com you can easily search for a dealer in your locality, register and send enquiries. MeriCAR.com will be using ValueFirst’s application to then send SMS to its customers. This ensures easy accessibility to car servicing solutions.

ValueFirst, a leading provider of enterprise mobile messaging services, proposed a solution based on API (Application Programming Interface). ValueFirst APIs would work with MeriCAR application layer to send enquiries on the SMS to car service dealers. Car dealers would be informed about car servicing enquiries through SMS and email.

Mobile messaging for car servicing truly makes MeriCAR services device-agnostic, enabling millions of car owners to access dealers on the move, with just an SMS. The use of this application is revolutionary as till date mobile messaging for such applications has been a niche activity in India. Mobility has become a necessity and MeriCAR.com has mobile-enabled its customers to ensure cost-efficient and timely service using ValueFirst’s enterprise application.

"Mobile messaging would help car workshops dealers who do not check emails regularly. It would be quick and easy for car owners to be in contact with car service dealers” says Rakesh K. Sidana, CEO, Amoeba Webware Pvt. Ltd.

"Large enterprises where the requirements are too complex and varied can incorporate the API function calls in their CRM / ERP applications. This SMS gateway API will enable high performance of MeriCAR.com. This application is Cost Effective, using IP connectivity to reduce costs and dependence on any specific mobile network. It also enables high bandwidth connectivity and provides customers with high message security through the implementation of 128 bit algorithm based encryption for all traffic. We at ValueFirst are delighted to handle all complex messaging requirements that MeriCAR may have”, says Vijay Shukla, Co-founder & Country Head for India, ValueFirst.

Today MeriCAR.com has been relaunched with new sections and features.Today MeriCAR.com has been relaunched with new sections and features.

To meet objective of "total car care services", MeriCAR.com has added new section Car Insurance. Ask the expert for car problems is improved section.

Design of MeriCAR.com is more focus with just three option broadly - Car Service, Car Insurance, Car Problem. The team may be just running around these three options to get revenue from the portal (and keeping an option for advertising in future.)

Car Service section has major improvement over just simple sending enquiry form. Now customer has two options while sending enquiry, one is MeriCAR.com recommendation and other is simple customer's choice. MeriCAR.com recommendation will improve services at car dealers side and give benefits to customers of competition.

It was seen that popular car dealers do not care about customers and MeriCAR recommendation will help customer to get car service done in time (when car dealer's driver just forgot picking up customer's car and customer was just waiting - it was funny).

Having implemented Mobile SMS along with Email for password verification are great improvement over last version.

MeriCAR.com would be planning to have reviews from customers to help car dealers to improve their services.

Hope you like new site. Please do send feedback. Thanks.

In 2008,, there is less investment by PE-VC in India. Yet, investment activity in India is likely to rebound fater than in western markets. India's growth drivers are still positive -- (source; outlook business, PE's here to stay - by Rajiv Memani, Ernst & Young).

When car manufacturer have stopped production, some have shut down plants, yet, car services business would increase. MeriCAR.com is still positive on having arrangement for investors.

MeriCAR is doing 'the right' alliances to improve the way we are doing presently. I hope everybody would like it.

While we are enjoying media coverage on While we are enjoying media coverage on

Global economy crisis has made all car makers to think about their production. Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. has cut its production target while there is a slowdown in the automotive sector. (source - HT news today). Source says, other car manufacturers, Tata motors is also planning.Global economy crisis has made all car makers to think about their production. Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. has cut its production target while there is a slowdown in the automotive sector. (source - HT news today). Source says, other car manufacturers, Tata motors is also planning.

I think when people are not buying new car, it may be obvious used cars and car servicing business may boost. Service industry in any sector gets boost when production gets slow.

A slowdown in auto sector would give chance to un-authorised service station to do good business. They need to improve their services. When you know you have to pay 3 times the cost of unauthorized car service center for standard things like washing/oil check etc - your vehicle, you will avoid going to authorized car service centers. I know for repairing some parts people do not take risk to go to unauthorized car service center.

Car manufacturer are worrying about present market scenario globally. American new elect Barack Obama is trying to save American motor industry from collapse (today's news -HT). Car manufacturer are worrying about present market scenario globally. American new elect Barack Obama is trying to save American motor industry from collapse (today's news -HT).

New car prices are being raised in India. Everybody needs to look at his pocket before buying new car.

Do not buy new car, get you old car service. This is the time wait and watch before buying new dream car.

You can make your old car looking like new when you just drop it at nearest car service dealer. MeriCAR.com has a list of dealers. Pick up and facility is mentioned along with dealer. Use 'send enquiry' form to contact workshop. It is easy!!!