The Indian Lubricant Market: Survival of the Slickest

The industry players are focusing on technical innovations like improvements in fuel efficiency, incorporating safety features like air bags in small segment cars, parking assistance features, automatic transmission in small segment cars, commercial vehicles ensuring the safety of drivers, two-wheelers with enhanced fuel efficiency, high engine performance, introducing features catering to the female customers etc. The average growth in terms of number of units of

There are distinctive barriers to entry in the automotive industry. The main 10 firms operating in the automotive industry have great power in terms of reputation, finances, experience, technology and existing large product portfolios. It would be highly difficult for a new company to compete with the above.
• The existing companies within the industry are joining forces, which at times do have detrimental effects for new comers to the market and for some existing companies. For instance, the situation of Rover in the UK. In the past, the profitable components of Rover were purchased by BMW and Ford, and Rover was left producing poor quality and old vehicles, which consequently led to its bankruptcy in April, 2005 (BBC, April

We page through the latest beauty magazines and are envious of the women with gorgeous long eyelashes in the magazine advertisements. Long, beautiful eyelashes are envied by women and desired by women too. However, few are able to grow long, luxurious lashes naturally. Surprising, some beauty experts report that Castor oil is very effective at thickening eyelashes.

(Select USA, n.d.), have identified the United States as having one of the largest automotive markets in the world, as it is home to thirteen (13) auto manufacturers. Similarly, Investopedia.com, (n.d.), states that the North American automobile production market, is dominated by what is known as the “Big Three”, which includes; General Motors, producers of Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick, and Cadillac, Chrysler, producers of Chrysler, jeep and Dodge, and Ford Motors, producers of Ford, Lincoln and Volvo”.

Just like the other industries such as apparel, electronics, and consumer goods, the automobile industry has accelerated its foreign direct investment, cross border trade and global production. The automobile industry has increased outsourcing and bundled value chain activities in major supplier chains. As a result, more developed countries that serve as suppliers have increased their involvement in trade and FDI. With these increased supplier capabilities, large national suppliers have become global suppliers and are now controlling multinational operations. This is because of their increased capability of providing good and services to various lead firms all over the world. The automotive industry has a distinct firm structure. This

Despite the high concentration ratios seen in the U.S. market, which typically signify that a lesser degree of competition is seen in the industry, rivalry in the U.S. and the global automotive industry is intense. Clearly, the

The United States automobile industry is one characterized by incumbent behemoth corporations whose distribution channels span the world. Companies like Toyota, General Motors, and Volkswagen form entire segments of their respective countries’ economies and have dominated the auto industry for generations.

The major users are industrial and mining companies, primary producers, transport companies and the automotive industry. These commercial users account for approximately 85 per cent of sales of lubricating oil. These sales are almost entirely made in bulk, or in steel drums, directly from the lubricating oil companies or their distributors.

The American automotive industry provides a unique and very important role in the economy of the United States of America. Not only in the United States but even around the world, the American Auto Industry is a leader in job creation, production, exportation and even in research and development. In the mid-20th century, America’s top auto manufactures have been General Motors, Ford and Chrysler. They were producing two-thirds of all the cars and vehicles sold around the world. There are still other smaller car manufacturers such as Anteras, Avanti, Shelby American, De Lorean, Dragon and several others. As of 2010 the auto industry contributed to about 4% of the United States Gross Domestic Profit and employed about 8 million jobs.

The oil industry, like other industries, has been forced to adjust to the massive change forces of technology, globalization, industry transformations, and entrepreneurial innovations. The oil industry has some special characteristics as well. Oil is a global market with 53% of volume internationally traded. It accounts for about 10% of world trade, more than any other commodity. While the

A report by the Automotive News (2014) said that “the tight race for market share is ‘the new normal’ for the U.S. automotive market, and the battle for market share among the largest eight automakers in the U.S. is great now as the range between them continues to narrow”. It said General Motors and Ford Motor Co. have continued to occupy the top two positions over the last 14 years, but their lead has narrowed significantly as Toyota moved into the 3rd position ahead of Chrysler, now called FCA US.

However, the two iconic British brand Jaguar and Land Rover failed to generate profit in the past and as a result were forced to merge with each other. Thus, the auto industry today if it wants to be competitive, it has to opt for delivering unprecedented levels of consumer value and service. Furthermore, intense competition among firms has been singled out as the one thing which is driving this unprecedented increase in consumer value and service. Therefore, the challenges facing (JLR) and other (MNC) is that because their subsidiaries in these emerging markets like China and India, find it harder to handle the performance management that’s required of them. Additionally, in order to drastically reduce production cost and deliver their products and services cheaply to consumers, (MNC) like (JLR) are entering into these joint ventures especially in China to handle production for them at such pace that causes concern among the traditional lover of the (JLR) brand.

India is the 4th largest economy by ppp index and growth in urbanization is further increasing the sales of automobiles.

A wide range of petroleum products which include gasoline, diesel, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and aviation fuel is produced by Petron Port Dickson Refinery (PDR), which has a rated capacity of 88,000 barrels per day and operated by Petron Malaysia Refining & Marketing Bhd. Petron subsidiaries in Malaysia has eleven strategically-located depots and terminals to distribute their world-class fuels. Therefore, they are able to ensure a continuous and dependable supply of quality fuels to their various customers through this potent distribution network.

Their Commercial fuels and lubrications divisions’ sells diesel, lubrications, illuminated paraffin, bitumen and heavy fuel furnace fuels directly to end user in the transport, construction, manufacturing, mining, marine, agriculture and general customer markets.