In five years, our India focus is scaling responsibly for future mobility

Nitin Mengi, Vice President – Lubrizol Additives IMEA and CMD, Lubrizol India, speaks on how the company is addressing the specific lubrication and additive needs of heavy machinery under extreme operating conditions.

Lubrizol is setting up its largest-ever manufacturing facility in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar with a $200 million investment. How does this new facility strengthen your presence in India, and what role will it play in catering to the evolving needs of the construction equipment and mobility sectors?

Lubrizol has been part of India’s growth story since 1966. With over $350 million invested in the region since 2021 and a strong network of 15 regional offices and manufacturing sites across IMEA, we continue to deepen our presence and partnerships here.

Our upcoming Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar facility, spread across 120 acres with an investment of $200 million, will be Lubrizol’s largest in India. Designed to expand local production capacity for transportation and industrial fluids, it will strengthen supply reliability not only for India but also for the Middle East. Complementing this will be our Technology and Innovation Centre in Maharashtra, which together with the facility will enable us to deliver region-specific solutions more quickly, create export opportunities, and reinforce India’s role within Lubrizol’s global network.

This expansion also comes at a pivotal moment, as the mobility sector accelerates its shift from advanced internal combustion engines to electrified drivetrains and alternative fuels. The Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar facility, together with our new Technology and Innovation Centre in Maharashtra, will enable us to bridge this transition, delivering region-specific formulations that address India’s diverse operating conditions, from urban congestion to high-heat rural environments.

With India’s construction equipment market rapidly growing and embracing new technologies, how is Lubrizol addressing the specific lubrication and additive needs of heavy machinery under extreme operating conditions?

India’s construction equipment industry is powering the nation’s infrastructure growth, but the machines that drive this progress face some of the harshest operating conditions in the world: extreme heat, high dust, overloading, and long duty cycles. These challenges make advanced lubrication and additive technologies critical to ensuring reliability, efficiency, and compliance.

At Lubrizol, our ISO-certified facilities in Turbhe and Taloja manufacture heavy-duty engine oil, hydraulic fluid, and driveline additives specifically engineered to deliver superior protection and performance under these demanding environments. By reducing wear, extending drain intervals, and lowering emissions, our solutions help OEMs and contractors keep equipment running stronger and longer, while also meeting India’s tightening emission standards such as BS-VI and aligning with global Stage V norms.

We are also transforming lubrication management from reactive to intelligent through AI, IoT, and automation. Smart fluids combined with predictive maintenance capabilities allow fleets to detect issues before they escalate, minimising unplanned downtime and reducing total cost of ownership. Automation ensures consistent fluid performance and enhances safety at worksites, supporting India’s rapid embrace of Industry 4.0 practices.

With this combination of proven durability, digital intelligence, and localised innovation, Lubrizol is not only supporting today’s infrastructure growth but also preparing India’s construction equipment industry for the next era of mobility, sustainability, and technology-driven progress.

How is Lubrizol preparing its EVOGEN™ e-fluid technologies to meet the evolving performance, durability, and sustainability needs of future electric and hybrid commercial vehicles?

The shift toward electric, hybrid and ICE vehicles brings unique requirements, from managing higher power densities to ensuring thermal stability and extended equipment life. Lubrizol’s EVOGEN e-fluid technologies are being developed with these needs in mind. These specialised fluids are designed to deliver efficient cooling, reliable lubrication, and long-lasting protection for critical components in electrified systems. These solutions not only support the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) but also improve the performance of vehicles utilising alternative fuel sources. By prioritising sustainability and advanced technology, Lubrizol is at the forefront of driving progress in the automotive industry.

Lubrizol India’s R&D processes integrate sustainable chemistry and Industry 4.0 tools. How are these innovations enhancing the development of next-gen additives?

India is emerging into a pivotal region for next-generation mobility; and, as the pace of electrification, alternative fuels and digitalisation transitions evolves, so too does the development of additives. At Lubrizol India, our R&D teams are utilising sustainable chemistry with facets of digitisation and Industry 4.0 to lead the transitions as they are happening. By utilising smarter modeling, AI-based formulation support provides smarter solutions and smart testing methods to better maintain and predict fluid behavior, help speed the time-to-market for development, and enable the acceleration of innovations. This is all enabling new generation additives that can contribute to the goal of energy efficiency, durability and flexibility around new powertrains and more cleaner fuels. What is unique about our approach as a team is local realities. 

Vehicles driving under unique driving conditions and vehicle calibration based on constant high temperatures, unreliable quality of fuel and variation with duty cycles play a major factor in developing viable solutions. Our solution development from initial idea, then across global operating environments provides significant value to Indian OEMs and mobility service providers while being adaptable back into global markets. In conclusion, together with sustainable chemistry, digitisation and a local lens, we at Lubrizol India will continue to lead the next generation of additives and support the future of cleaner and more enduring forms of mobility.

While EV solutions are gaining traction, conventional diesel-powered construction equipment still dominates the market. How is Lubrizol balancing its product portfolio to support both existing machinery and future electrified platforms?

In markets like India, where conventional machinery remains critical even as electrification gathers pace, Lubrizol is aligning its portfolio to serve both needs enhancing performance of current systems while preparing for the transition to next-generation platforms.

• Strengthening our core for conventional machinery: With decades of presence in India, and ISO certified facilities that produce Fuel and Lubricant additives, Industrial lubricants, and specialty performance chemicals. These solutions improve energy efficiency, reduce emissions, and enhance reliability and durability for Diesel-Powered construction equipment, ensuring peak performance and longevity
• Pioneering solutions for electrification: Through our EVOGEN e-fluid technologies, we are developing specialised additives, driveline fluids, and advanced greases that meet the unique requirements of electric and hybrid vehicle innovations that can be adapted to support future electrified construction machinery.

This dual focus allows us to power the present while shaping the future, ensuring our customers can transition at their own pace without compromising on performance or sustainability.

How does Lubrizol work with construction equipment OEMs and component manufacturers in India to co-develop solutions that meet local climate, terrain, and regulatory requirements?

In India’s construction equipment market, operating conditions are diverse and often demanding, which makes close collaboration with OEMs, tier-I suppliers, and oil marketers essential. By working alongside these partners, we are able to co-develop solutions that address challenges from ensuring equipment durability in extreme climates and terrains to improve efficiency in everyday use.

Localised innovation plays a central role here. Our additives and lubricants are designed with India’s unique requirements in mind, while also helping customers stay ahead of evolving regulatory standards on energy efficiency and emissions. This approach combines deep industry engagement with region-specific product development, ensuring that our solutions are not only technologically robust but also relevant and reliable in real-world conditions.

Construction equipment in India operates under diverse conditions—extreme heat, dust, and heavy monsoon environments. How is Lubrizol customising its additive solutions to meet these unique challenges for Indian contractors and fleet owners?

India operates under diverse weather conditions whether it’s extreme climate, diverse terrains or evolving regulatory requirements, by manufacturing locality and using India as a supply hub for other countries we gain insights into ground-level challenges, which helps us tailoring our additives solutions by focusing on the realities of India’s operating environment and design solutions that are both relevant and reliable. At the same time, we are introducing advanced offerings such as EVOGEN additives, specialised fluids, and greases that support cleaner, more efficient mobility, including the growing new energy vehicle segment. This balance of local responsiveness and global expertise allows us to deliver products that improve durability, efficiency, and performance for contractors and fleet owners in India.

Looking ahead, what are Lubrizol’s top priorities in India for the next five years?

In the next five years, our focus in India is on scaling responsibly and preparing for the future of mobility. The Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar facility will anchor this growth by expanding capacity and positioning India as a key export hub for the region.

At the same time, we see the biggest opportunities in enabling cleaner, more efficient mobility. We are advancing additives and fluids that support EVs, alternative fuels, and stricter emission standards, while embedding sustainability into every stage of development.

Another priority is digital transformation. By integrating AI, IoT, and automation into our operations and R&D, we aim to shorten development cycles, improve safety, and bring smarter solutions to market faster.

Together, these steps reflect how we are positioning India not just for today’s needs but as a driver of Lubrizol’s global innovation and sustainability agenda in the years ahead.