Car wash and car care is one of the most essential segments in the automotive industry and yet at the same time it is facing some very pressing challenges in India. The Car Care Expo, which gives this segment the much-required exclusive identity, in its 5th edition had some stalls overflowing with visitors on all three days. People gathered to see for themselves the effectiveness of car cleaning machines, and inquisitive customers questioned sales personnel about chemicals displayed. Clean India Journal asked some of them about what was new, and in demand in the car care industry, and what their many customers were looking for:
Trending products
Having a conversation near Steam Buddy’s booth was wellnigh impossible. Throughout the day, its MD Piyush Khokle would operate his steam cleaning machine on a test surface; its loud drone did nothing to faze his customers, who came not only from the car care sector, but also from the pharma and food processing industries. Between demonstrations, Khokle said: “Visitors have amazed me with the many ways they want to apply steam cleaning to their own industries. This machine is easy to use, and thus has many applications.”
Waxpol’s stall was no less noisy with the din created by customers shooting queries about their range of cleaning products. Subhash Chandra Pandey, Branch Manager (Mumbai) said, “Polishes are selling more than ever before. Even if you don’t use a lubricant in your car for a while, you can get yourself to go on using the car. But no one can leave a car dirty. That is why polishes are more in demand.” Asked for proportions of enquiries for polish to lubricants, he revealed — 70:30.
He went on to explain why this trend is only set to rise. India is slowly but steadily increasing its share of electric vehicles; these won’t need lubricant, only polish. As the government incentivises e-vehicles and more and more charging stations sprout up in urban areas, the relative demand for polish is set to shoot through the roof.
Pandey explained that there are three categories of car cleaning compounds: for washing, for rubbing, and a final polish. Depending upon the age of the car and the amount its colour has faded, a customer may choose to use some or all of the above products.
Water saving for the win
A conventional car wash requires massive quantities of water. After cleaning, this becomes wastewater, which, along with chemicals used, is released into sewers and finally enters our groundwater. Khokle said, “Steamers can help prevent this. They don’t require any additional chemical, and need just 10-15 litres of water to wash both the inside and outside of a car, thus reducing water consumption by up to 90%.”
Ultimately, it is the level of cleanliness inside a car that matters most, as that is the part we come in contact with. Imagine the crumbs of food that kids might drop on the floor. Or the breathing problems mold can cause for an asthmatic patient. Khokle said: “Steam works at a temperature which can properly sanitise car interiors. Not requiring additional chemicals has an added advantage; these used to spoil the workplace area and employees’ clothing. Using just steam allows employees to be properly dressed.”
Saving time is making money
Hitesh Jangra, Director-Jangra Chemicals, said: “Customers want products that are quick to use. They are interested in a single product that can perform more than one task. For example, they want a waterless wash and spray wax in the same product”. He gave the example of his fastselling product Hybridex; all it needs is to be diluted in water, sprayed and wiped. A single bottle of the product produces 40 bottles of cleaning liquid after dilution, which can be used for 80 washes.
Not only is it economical, but as a cherry on the cake, it can be used by both professionals and laymen, and guarantees the same standards of cleaning as multiple cleaning products used together.”
Summarising the demand for multi-function products, Pandey reminded us that most people did not wash their own cars. But there is a minority that does, and these car-owners do not want to put in too much effort and use a series of products. They want an all-in-one product.
Single solution, multiple applications
Steam Buddy’s machines are being used beyond the car care industry, to clean telecommunication towers, wineries and breweries. These sectors have strict hygiene parameters to follow, where only steam, and no chemicals are permitted for cleaning. “Once liquor has been removed from drums,” said Khokle, “They need to be sanitised. Solar panels also require frequent cleaning. India has many massive solar farms, each with expansive solar panels which need to be cleaned daily for them to maintain their efficiency.”
This requires massive volumes of water. For example, cleaning a 2MW plant necessitates the use of 8000-9000 litres; steam cleaning machines have cut this down to 800-900 litres.
Such devices are already operational in hospitals, to clean stretchers and ambulances. Khokle shared: “Sanitisation happens between 85 to 135 degrees centigrade; only then can you kill bacteria. Otherwise, one is only helping them grow. Our machines work in that temperature range. We tested it in hospital settings, and it kills almost 99% of germs with just steam.”
Doorstep car care
The era of Swiggy and Zomato has accustomed customers to home delivery of services. No one wants to spend time in a queue at a car wash. Thus, car care centers are now sending employees with equipment to clean cars at the owner’s residence itself. And these are not untrained workers with rags and a bucket of dirty water, but specialised workers with the best equipment. Accordingly, machines also have been modified to run on diesel — for portability, or on electricity, to prevent indoor air pollution. Pandey said that at the Expo, he had received many enquiries for products from entrepreneurs from South India, where the concept of home delivery of car care services has been flourishing.
Cleaning car interiors
Car dashboards are dust magnets. At the Expo, products which attracted zero dust after use were much in demand. Car shampoos which could be used by both laymen and professionals, which leave a shine, and a pleasant scent after cleaning, also proved to be very popular.
Reaching out to customers
Jangra Chemicals is reaching out to consumers directly by listing its products for sale on its website and Amazon, as well as advertising on Facebook and other social media. Jangra said, “Our main problem is that people don’t know how to use car care products. We are trying to help bridge this knowledge gap with instructive videos on our YouTube channel.”
Every recent study has predicted a boom in the global car care industry, with South Asia in general and India in particular contributing a significant share. Should this prediction come true, we can look forward to a much bigger, and even more popular Care Care Expo 2021. Every recent study has predicted a boom in the global car care industry, with South Asia in general and India in particular contributing a significant share. Should this prediction come true, we can look forward to a much bigger, and even more popular Care Care Expo 2021.
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