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country with state-of-the-art technology, machinery and trained manpower aimed at helping identify and recommending relevant repair and re-tread procedures to the fleet owners. This in turn brings down and reduces the operational costs. These centres help in avoiding scrap, ensuring a second and third life for tyres, he said.

Global aftermarket

Globally, the automotive aftermarket keeps 1.5 billion vehicles on the road while contributing USD 1.8 trillion to the global economy. After vehicles exit their warranty period, independent repair shops perform 70 per cent of repairs.

A testimony to the aftermarket reach is how vehicle owners are deterred from plying their vehicle without undertaking repairs. This practice is prevalent in markets like New Zealand for example, confirmed Gopal P. Bhatia, an Indianorigin citizen of the island country from Vadodara. On probing further, it became clear that the consumer protection guidelines also stipulate a free and independent dispute resolution process to resolve problems or extra warranties if the work is not done properly by a mechanic deemed well established. The mechanic is deemed established only if he is registered with a trade association like the Motor Trade Association (MTA) or Vehicle Services Foundation (VSF). It is also true that a garage you may opt for might only be good for fixing cars of New Zealand and Japanese models over fixing European cars. This needs to be determined by consumers beforehand by exercising due diligence. With the right garage, part sourcing is claimed to be easier as well as the garage is more likely to have the right tools for carrying out the repairs. Likewise, there are dedicated garages for EV repairs in the island country.

In comparison to India, a Warrant of Fitness (WoF) is required for cars registered before 2000. It is issued every six months. The frequency is one year in the case of vehicles registered post-2000 anywhere in the world, for the lifetime. New cars need a WoF only three years after they are first registered post which they require a manual inspection. As per Waka Kotahi, the NZ Transport Agency, WoF is crucial to vehicles meeting required safety standards.

The implementation has stringent laws for aggregates too. For example, even though the vehicle aggregates may clear a WoF inspection, if the tyres wear out to the extent of reaching their minimum depth, the foreseeable risk of a crash is heightened with the probability of a fine being levied. If the driver waits to replace the tyres until the next WoF check that could be scheduled at any of the 3200 WoF agents in New Zealand, it could have negative implications. An unfit vehicle is deemed “illegal” to drive, Bhatia emphasised. A fit vehicle bears a WoF badge inside, on the front windscreen on the driver’s side.

In the EU, the ‘right to repair’ proposal was announced in the New Consumer Agenda and the circular economy action plan. It is said to tackle obstacles that discourage consumers to repair due to inconvenience, lack of transparency or difficult access to repair services. The move to make repairs more lucrative except when repairs are costlier than replacement