The automotive lubricant industry is standing at the crossroads of performance, efficiency, sustainability and self-reliance. With the industry experiencing a gradual change in mobility variants, safety requirements and luxury standards, the role of lubricants has shifted from being silent facilitators to strategic differentiators.
The need to make it high-performing, energy-efficient, and environmentally-friendly is transforming the perception of this critical element of mobility by manufacturers and consumers. As the Indian automotive industry moves towards self-reliance under the vision of “Make in India” the use of advanced lubricant has become more important than ever before. It is not just fueling engines, but a nation’s ambition for sustainable progress.
Switching to this dynamic space is a company that has carefully blended global proficiency with local ingenuity. At the confluence of German engineering precision and Indian manufacturing agility stands Klüber Lubrication, a company that has silently but powerfully defined the performance, reliability and technology in the lubrication industry. It has been operating in India for more than 25 years, and has established its image based on the principles of consistency and innovation. By marking its silver jubilee last year, it did not only celebrate an occasion that commemorated the long journey, but also reflected the transformation of its role in advancing India’s mobility ecosystem.
This long-term commitment is embodied in its state of the art manufacturing plant in Mysore. The plant is currently in the process of a ₹142 crore expansion to make it the company’s most advanced global production hub. The new plant will not just cater to the Indian market but will also cater to the neighboring areas such as Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and the Middle East. This growth is a representation of a progressive vision, one that aligns with the technology revolution currently experienced in India's burgeoning auto industry.
Co-Creating Reliability through Customized Solutions
The unique aspect of the approach used by Klüber Lubrication is that it does not consider lubrication as consumable, but as a performance enabler. Its mission has always been to provide accessibility of world-class lubrication technology to the Indian OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers, enabling them to achieve higher reliability, reduced costs, and faster time-to-market for advanced vehicles.
Hitendra Bhargava, CEO & Regional Management Board Member (Asia Pacific), Klüber Lubrication says, “In an industry where reliability is non-negotiable, our philosophy is based on a simple yet powerful concept that we don’t sell lubricants, we engineer tribological solutions”. This mindset stems from what it calls a “lubrication pharmacy” approach. Similar to a doctor diagnosing symptoms before prescribing treatment, the company identifies the unique problems of a particular customer and then formulates an individualized solution to resolve the problem.
This personalized strategy is summarized in what the organization defines as its 3C strategy, that is, customization, co-creation, and consistency. Each formulation is created in close association with the customers, tested under extreme conditions, and proven to perform, consume less energy, and be durable.
It results in solutions that do not only increase the life of the components, but also reduce friction losses and downtime, which are vital aspects in an industry that operates on accuracy and speed.
This commitment to quantifiable, physical outcomes has enabled the company to cultivate long-lasting relationships with the automotive manufacturers in the country. It has remained distinctive not due to strong marketing efforts but due to technical richness, ethical behavior and a quiet assurance that performance speaks louder than promises.
Sustainability Anchored in Performance
Among the numerous values that Klüber Lubrication follows, sustainability remains closest to its heart. It is not addressed as a company agenda, but as a mode of operation. The sustainability process of the company has gained recognition around the world and has earned the Ecovadis Gold Medal in four consecutive years; placing the company in the top three percent of companies across the world in ethical and sustainable practices.
The journey of Klüber Lubrication is not just a story of growth; it is a narrative of purpose
In 2019-2024, it reported a remarkable 78 percent reduction in Scope 1 CO2 emission, as well as saved more than 445,000 megawatt hours of energy due to energy efficiency targeted programs. All these milestones highlight the culture of responsibility and innovation that goes beyond compliance.
Its product development strategy is also environmentally conscious. All the new formulations target to reduce the environmental impact: be it lithium-free, REACH-compliant lubricants, or water-based hydro-lubricants that are redefining the meaning of sustainable lubrication. The innovations demonstrate that the company believes that technology and sustainability are not conflicting but complementary forces that are helping the industry to develop. The company applies these principles in both its R&D and in manufacturing to not only minimize its environmental impact but also aid the customers in attaining their own sustainability objectives. It is a philosophy that the company refers to as “increasing customer handprints while reducing our footprints”.
Advancing Mobility through Smart, Sustainable & Localized Solutions
With the automotive industry entering a new phase characterized by smart mobility and electrification, the company has stamped its foot on the areas of innovation, sustainability, and localization which are the three pillars that guide its growth.
Under innovation, it continues to invest in smart lubrication technologies that combine material science and digital intelligence. The company envisions lubrication systems that have real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance features so that customers can monitor lubricant performance, utilize energy more efficiently, and increase equipment life. “Such forward-looking strategy is not only concerned with the inclusion of digital tools but also about the ways of changing how reliability is perceived and handled in contemporary manufacturing”, Hitendra mentions.
All our formulations target to reduce the environmental impact: be it lithium-free, REACH-compliant lubricants, or water-based hydro-lubricants that are redefining the meaning of sustainable lubrication
Sustainability being the second pillar, remains deeply intertwined with its long-term objectives. The company will work towards being carbon-neutral in its operations by 2030, as it will accelerate the adoption of lithium-free or water-based lubricants that are eco-compliant. Every innovation is aligned properly to the overall mission of conservation of resources, reducing emissions, and promoting circularity within the value chain.
The third pillar, localization, reinforces its commitment to India’s self-reliance goals. The growth of the Mysore plant is another obvious sign of how the local manufacturing excellence can be used not only in meeting the domestic demands but also regional ones. This plan enhances the capacity of the company to provide international-quality products designed and produced in India; making it an inseparable part of the movement of Make in India. Through these efforts, Klüber Lubrication aims to redefine what it means to be a global player rooted in local realities balancing precision engineering with adaptability, and global vision with regional responsibility.
A Vision Beyond Lubrication
Moving forward, the company has a roadmap that is based on a single overarching vision, that is, every drop of lubrication must lead to a cleaner, smarter and more efficient mobility future. With it constantly striving to support the changing demands of the automotive market, its priorities are straightforward: to enable customers with performance-driven, sustainable, and locally developed solutions.
The journey of Klüber Lubrication is not just a story of growth; it is a narrative of purpose. In its ability to deliver innovation with responsibility and technology with trust, it has become an illustration of how leadership is established in the industry not only through size but also in the difference it makes on individuals, machines, and the environment.
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