The aftermarket division of Magneti Marelli Parts & Services, a leading global automotive parts manufacturer and supplier, is growing its range for Chinese cars and looking for a partner to enter India. The company also wants to keep its service levels high. Accordingly, the company has showcased its products and services at the recently concluded Automechanika Frankfurt.
Speaking to this publication, Mr. Matteo Rota, EMEA Marketing Communications Manager, Marelli Aftermarket Italy S.p.A., said the company is actively seeking partners in India and looking to build out a dedicated range for the Indian market. While early groundwork is already underway, doing this remotely from Europe has proven difficult. The first priority is simply making parts available, but building a strong sales network matters just as much. Rather than rush in and risk diluting quality, the company is taking a measured approach, which is why, he explained, finding the right partner is so critical.
At the show, an immersive tunnel presented the broad Magneti Marelli Parts & Services spare parts offering through ‘Infinity Mirror’ displays and interactive touchscreens, allowing visitors to explore the various features of the products. The ranges were organised by product family, including mechanical, maintenance, bodywork, and electronic components, represented by brake discs and pads, AGM batteries, intercoolers, and throttle bodies.
The journey continued in an area dedicated to MAKE spare parts, originating from original equipment applications and made available to the aftermarket. Highlights included the semi-active structural damper for the Alfa Romeo Tonale and lighting systems, represented by the front headlights for the Audi A8, BMW X5, and Mercedes-Benz CLE, as well as the rear light unit for the Porsche Panamera.
After explaining the exhibits Mr. Rota said the company aims to stand at the forefront of change, anticipating trends before they arrive. He expects Chinese cars to become more popular in Europe over the next five years and the car park will change as a result. Magneti Marelli has already opened new part codes for these cars, and more will follow. Being part of a manufacturer helps the company hold its leadership position in Europe. Still, it must stay flexible and follow what the market and drivers need. High levels of service, logistics, and customer relationships are equally important, he noted.
How Performance Is Measured
The company starts by looking closely at the vehicle parc, developing its range to cover nearly every area of a car. Customer satisfaction and economic performance remain its key measures of success. Magneti Marelli has a strong presence in South America, particularly Brazil, and across Europe, with Italy and Poland standing out as its strongest markets. It has also established a fast-growing APAC region based in China, and, he announced, the company now has its sights set on India as its next area of growth.
New Products Ahead
Looking ahead, Mr. Rota expects new offerings tailored to EVs, including brake discs designed around their distinct maintenance needs. The company’s robust tools department also continues developing equipment for mechanics on the ground. At the same time, its product range is evolving to serve Chinese brands and a broader set of Asian vehicles. For now, the core focus remains passenger cars, with a smaller footprint in trucks, and the company’s deepest expertise still lies in Western, particularly European, vehicles, he noted.
A Century of Trust
With over 100 years behind it, Magneti Marelli has earned its place as a global leader in both manufacturing and the aftermarket. Mr. Rota said sustaining that trust requires constant investment, not just in product quality, but in the services, like logistics, that surround it. Speed to market has also become non-negotiable, prompting the company to undergo a significant digital transformation to move faster without cutting corners.
Training the Mechanic
Magneti Marelli runs training centres across Italy, Spain, and Poland, where its engineers, technicians, and mechanics are trained. It also operates Magneti Marelli Checkstar, a global network of authorised workshops. In Italy alone, more than 1,600 garages carry the brand, giving them access to spare parts, training, and tools. As Mr. Rota put it, what drivers want above all is trust, the confidence that a garage will do the job safely and honestly.
Software-defined vehicles, he added, won’t reach the aftermarket just yet. That work is currently underway in other divisions of Marelli, where prototypes for future cars are being built. The aftermarket division, he concluded, will step in when the time is right.