Page 31 - BRIDGESTONE PR REPORT - OCTOBER 2025

10/10/25, 1:53 PM Shamal Communications
She said: “I like to say we are no longer talking about the aftermarket, and are in fact talking about the after future – a future
where every component is designed with its second life in mind. Every service is data-driven and delivered with precision, and
every kilometre leaves a smaller footprint than the one before. In the past, the aftermarket existed to sustain the journey. Today
we are the journey. How we maintain, repurpose, and innovate will determine the lifespan of vehicles, as well as the
sustainability of our cities.

“With the combined efforts of operators, innovators, policy makers, and strategic partners, we have the chance to shape the
industry for the future.”

A strong lineup of sessions addressed a range of topics, including a panel on ‘The Connected Aftermarket – Telematics, Data,
and Digital Innovation,’ moderated by Subhashree Ramarathnam of Frost & Sullivan. Speakers, including Mohamed Yagoub
Mastoor of Ruptela, Vijay Gummadi of Autorox, and Maneesha Bhatnagar of LeasePlan Emirates, examined how telematics,
data, and digital innovation are redefining the aftermarket and the need for a connected ecosystem to enhance trust and
efficiency.

“The primary challenge we are facing, from a repair shop perspective, is a highly fragmented ecosystem – repair shops not
connected to suppliers, car owners, insurance companies, and fleet operators,” said Gummadi.

“Due to this lack of a connected ecosystem and its fragmented nature, the primary issue is trust – car owners don’t trust repair
shops in the independent aftermarket. We have to enhance the trust by bringing connectivity to all the main players,” he added.

The conversation then turned to E-Commerce Platforms as the New Engine for Aftermarket Sales and Service, where Steven
Pickering of Buyparts24, Ashar Ali Minai of Bosch Middle East, Vijay Gummadi of Autorox, and Hani Tannir of Al Masaood
discussed how digital sales channels are transforming customer access to parts and services, and the opportunities and
challenges of building consumer trust in online platforms.

“Digital will always be our North Star, but in B2B, it is still quite ‘fidgital’ in nature – you still need the support of a salesperson,
that physical push. We have found that some customers are more advanced and more free-flowing on the digital side, but
we’ve realised the importance of meeting customers at different levels of adoption. We’ve had to establish what our customer
language is, versus ours,” added Pickering.

Sustainability was brought into focus in a session on Powering a Sustainable Aftermarket with Circular Economy, moderated by
Nirmal Shani, Global Energy & Sustainability. The panel, featuring Talha Marzouk of OWS Automotive Solutions, Raji Hattar,
Sustainability & ESG Strategy Advisor, and Raya Makawi, Advisor in ESG & Government Affairs, discussed practical strategies
for remanufacturing, recycling, and resource efficiency as essential tools for achieving greener operations.

Elsewhere, attention shifted to Navigating a Future with EVs and ADAS, moderated by Heiko Seitz of PwC, where Dr Manfred
Braenl, Porsche Middle East & Africa, Dr. Nima Mehrdadi of HELLA Middle East, Roberto Lopes Da Silva, NIO UAE, and
Gurhan Cevikel of Bridgestone Middle East Africa addressed how the widespread adoption of electric vehicles and advanced
driver assistance systems will require new service models, advanced training for technicians, and investments in supporting
infrastructure.

The day closed with insights on the region’s resilience and growth potential, including Shehab Sultan Mesmar of Dubai Auto
Market, who highlighted the aftermarket ecosystem’s next frontier, followed by a panel on Future-Proofing Supply Chains
Through Localisation with Vishnu Suresh, Kearney, Rajkumar Venkatapathy, Central Motors and Equipment, Aftaab
Aboobacker of Bilstein Group, Sajith Sulayman, Autotek.io who examined how strengthening regional supply capabilities can
mitigate global disruptions and build long-term industry stability.

Tommy Le, Show Manager of Automechanika Dubai at Messe Frankfurt Middle East, said: “The Automechanika Network
provides the aftermarket community with a unique space for forward-looking dialogue. By hosting the 23rd edition in Abu Dhabi,
we broadened the conversation to include fresh perspectives from across the industry. These discussions offer valuable
insights as we build towards Automechanika Dubai 2025 this December.”

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