Motorcycle product heralds new strength of Total Indian Tech Centre as Petronas joins the party.
Total's TCAP, Navi Mumbai Image: Total |
The new product, named the 'Hi-Perf' series, is set to reach the shelves of domestic lubes suppliers before the end of the year.
More importantly, this is a major product development from Total's Technical Centre for Asia-Pacific (TCAP based in Mahape, Navi Mumbai.
The Centre is at the heart of Total's product development, being one of only two such sites in the world for the French company - the other in France itself.
According to TCAP boss, Franck Eydoux, the facility currently handles some 20% of Total's lubes, fuels, additives and specialist fluid research and development. He also revealed ambitious plans to increase the Centre's output by 25% within the next five years.
Meanwhile, Malaysian oil giant Petronas is set to spend $150m over the next five years to expand its lubricants presence in India. The money will include the construction of a 110m litre capacity lubes blending plant which is likely to come on-stream at the end of Q1 next year.
Petronas has ambitions to triple its Indian market share by 2022 while aiming to become a top five global player within the next five years.