Castrol India
Indian automotive and industrial lubricant company operating under the Castrol brand and part of the BP Group.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Castrol India is an Indian automotive and industrial lubricant manufacturing company associated with Castrol Limited in the United Kingdom and the wider BP Group. Its business covers lubricants and related fluid products for passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, industrial equipment, manufacturing operations, and other specialized applications. The company serves the Indian market through a manufacturing and distribution network that, according to the referenced company description, includes five manufacturing plants, more than 400 distributors, and over 70,000 retail outlets. The brand's presence in India dates to 1910, when automotive lubricants made by C. C. Wakefield & Company began to be imported into the country. This early import activity connected the Indian market with the Castrol business before the present corporate entity was created. The company was incorporated in 1979 as Indrol Lubricants and Specialities Pvt Ltd. It subsequently became a public company and was listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange in 1982. In 1987, it formed a subsidiary called Indtech Speciality Chemicals Ltd. A significant corporate and brand transition took place on 1 November 1990, when the company's name changed from Indrol Lubricants & Specialities Ltd. to Castrol India Ltd. The change aligned the listed Indian company more directly with the Castrol identity. Beyond automotive lubricants, the business has also been associated with industrial materials and specialty products, including telephone cable jellies, pharmaceutical jellies, and industrial waxes manufactured through technical collaboration with Dussek Campbell of the United Kingdom. Castrol India's product scope includes automotive oils, gear oils, hydraulic fluids, compressor oils, turbine oils, refrigeration oils, heat-transfer oils, greases, metalworking fluids, cutting oils, cleaners, corrosion preventives, and other industrial lubricant formulations. The portfolio is designed to address both routine vehicle maintenance and demanding industrial conditions such as high temperatures, friction, corrosion, machining, and heavy mechanical loads. In the Indian lubricant market, the company has been described in the reference material as the second-largest manufacturer of automotive and industrial lubricants and as holding approximately 20 percent of the overall market. These figures are market-description claims rather than independently dated financial disclosures in the available material. Castrol India's route to market combines manufacturing with a broad distributor and retail network, giving the brand visibility in workshops, automotive retail, commercial transport, and industrial channels. Castrol India is a public company whose business is connected to Castrol Limited UK and BP. In December 2019, discussions between Reliance Industries and BP concerning fuel stations in India were reported as potentially providing locations where Castrol products could be sold. The referenced material does not establish that such discussions resulted in a completed transaction or a specific Castrol India operating change. Castrol India therefore remains best understood as the Indian corporate and operating platform for Castrol-branded lubricants, with a long local history, a broad technical portfolio, and extensive domestic distribution.
History
Castrol India's history in India begins in 1910, when automotive lubricants supplied by C. C. Wakefield & Company were imported into the country. This activity established a Castrol-related commercial presence in the Indian market before the creation of the modern listed company. The early business was therefore based on imported products rather than the present manufacturing and distribution structure. The corporate predecessor of Castrol India was incorporated in 1979 under the name Indrol Lubricants and Specialities Pvt Ltd. The company later became a public limited company and was listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange in 1982. This listing marked an important step in the formal development of the Indian lubricant business and created the corporate structure through which the company would expand its local operations. In 1987, the company formed a subsidiary named Indtech Speciality Chemicals Ltd. The subsidiary reflected a business scope extending beyond conventional vehicle oils into specialty chemical and industrial applications. The available reference material does not provide detailed operating results for the subsidiary, but its formation indicates that the group was developing capabilities in related technical-product areas. The decisive brand and corporate naming change occurred on 1 November 1990. Indrol Lubricants & Specialities Ltd. was renamed Castrol India Ltd. This change linked the Indian listed company more directly with the Castrol identity and represented the consolidation of the local business under the internationally recognized lubricant brand. The company also manufactured telephone cable jellies, pharmaceutical jellies, and industrial waxes through technical collaboration with Dussek Campbell in the United Kingdom, demonstrating that its activities included specialty materials as well as automotive and industrial lubricants. Over time, Castrol India developed a broad product range covering automotive oils, truck and engine lubricants, hydraulic fluids, gear oils, compressor oils, turbine oils, refrigeration oils, heat-transfer oils, greases, metalworking fluids, cutting oils, cleaners, and corrosion-prevention products. These categories serve passenger vehicles, commercial transport, workshops, manufacturing operations, and other industrial users. The company's Indian operating model has combined local manufacturing with a large distribution network. The referenced company description identifies five manufacturing plants, more than 400 distributors, and over 70,000 retail outlets. The company has been described as the second-largest manufacturer of automotive and industrial lubricants in India and as holding approximately 20 percent of the overall Indian lubricant market. The available source does not attach a specific measurement year to these market-share statements, so they should be treated as descriptive rather than as current verified market statistics. Castrol India operates as part of the Castrol business associated with Castrol Limited UK, which in turn belongs to BP. In late 2019, reports described discussions between Reliance Industries and BP about creating fuel stations in India where Castrol products might be sold. The available material does not establish whether those discussions resulted in a completed partnership, acquisition, or network rollout. The documented history therefore ends with Castrol India as an active public Indian lubricant company supported by Castrol's international brand and BP group relationship, a domestic manufacturing base, and extensive market distribution.
- 2019
Reported discussions about fuel-station distribution
[1]Reliance Industries and BP were reported to be discussing fuel stations in India where Castrol products could potentially be sold.
- 1990
Company renamed Castrol India Ltd.
[1]On 1 November, Indrol Lubricants & Specialities Ltd. changed its name to Castrol India Ltd., aligning the listed Indian business with the Castrol brand.
- 1987
Indtech Speciality Chemicals subsidiary formed
[1]The company established Indtech Speciality Chemicals Ltd. as a subsidiary.
- 1982
Company listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange
[1]The company became a public limited company and was listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange.
- 1979
Corporate predecessor incorporated
[1]Indrol Lubricants and Specialities Pvt Ltd was incorporated as the predecessor of the present Castrol India company.
- 1910
Castrol-related lubricants enter the Indian market
[1]Automotive lubricants from C. C. Wakefield & Company began to be imported into India, establishing the brand's early commercial presence in the country.
Products and positioning
A large Indian automotive and industrial lubricant manufacturer positioned around Castrol's international technical brand, local manufacturing, and extensive distribution through distributors, retailers, automotive channels, and industrial customers.
Automotive lubricants
Automotive oils
Lubricating oils for vehicle engines and related automotive applications. The referenced portfolio includes general automotive oils as well as truck piston engine oils, serving passenger and commercial-vehicle use cases.
Industrial lubricants
Industrial oils
A broad group of fluids for industrial machinery, including hydraulic oils, gear oils, compressor oils, turbine oils, refrigeration oils, and heat-transfer oils. These products support equipment lubrication, power transmission, cooling, and industrial process reliability.
Industrial and automotive lubricants
Greases
Semi-solid lubricants intended for applications where oils may not remain in place or provide sufficient protection. The referenced range includes high-temperature grease and other grease applications for automotive and industrial equipment.
Manufacturing fluids
Metalworking fluids
Fluids used in machining and metal-processing operations. The cited product categories include emulsifiable oils, neat cutting oils, and other cutting fluids designed to support tooling, heat management, lubrication, and workpiece protection.
Maintenance chemicals
Corrosion preventives and cleaners
Products intended to help protect metal surfaces from corrosion and to clean equipment or components. They complement the company's lubricant portfolio in maintenance and industrial service applications.
Specialty chemicals
Specialty jellies and industrial waxes
Specialty materials associated with the company's earlier technical collaboration with Dussek Campbell of the United Kingdom. The cited applications include telephone cable jellies, pharmaceutical jellies, and industrial waxes.
Brand decisions
2019
Potential fuel-station distribution partnership discussedStrategyBackground
Reliance Industries and BP were reported to be discussing the establishment of fuel stations in India.
Action taken
The reported proposal contemplated selling Castrol products through the potential fuel-station network.
Aftermath
The available reference does not confirm that the discussions resulted in a completed agreement or a documented change to Castrol India's operations.
1990
Adoption of the Castrol India corporate nameStrategyBackground
The Indian listed business had operated under the Indrol Lubricants & Specialities name since its incorporation and listing.
Action taken
On 1 November 1990, the company changed its name to Castrol India Ltd., bringing the corporate identity into closer alignment with the Castrol brand.
Aftermath
The renamed company continued as the Indian automotive and industrial lubricant business associated with Castrol Limited UK and, through it, BP.
Recent events
Castrol India announces CFO and whole-time director succession[2]
Reported:
Castrol India announced that Deepesh Baxi would succeed Rashmi Joshi as CFO and whole-time director. Joshi was to step down from the position on December 31, 2020, and Baxi was to take up the role and join the board on January 1, 2021.
Castrol launches Power1 Ultimate engine oil for two-wheelers[3]
Reported:
Castrol India launched Power1 Ultimate, a fully synthetic engine oil range for motorcycles, scooters and premium two-wheelers. The range is available at Castrol Bike Points, dealerships and online platforms.
Castrol India appoints Sandeep Sangwan as managing director[4]
Reported:
Castrol India announced the appointment of Sandeep Sangwan as managing director, effective January 1, 2020. Sangwan will succeed Omer Dormen, who is to move to another role leading Castrol's business in Europe.
- Unconfirmed
Standard Chartered banking partnership for Castrol Fast Scan[5]
Reported:
Standard Chartered Bank is the banking partner for Castrol Fast Scan, Castrol India's digital incentive platform.
- Unconfirmed
Castrol Fast Scan launch[5]
Reported:
Castrol India announced Castrol Fast Scan, a digital incentive platform for mechanics and retailers that lets them earn, track and redeem rewards and receive them in their bank accounts using IMPS.
Sources7 sources
- 1Castrol Indiaen.wikipedia.org
- 2嘉实多印度宣布首席财务官及全职董事继任安排overdrive.in
- 3Castrol推出Power1 Ultimate两轮车机油overdrive.in
- 4Castrol India任命Sandeep Sangwan为董事总经理business-standard.com
- 5渣打银行成为 Castrol Fast Scan 银行合作伙伴business-standard.com
- 6Castrol India appoints Saugata Basu Ray as Wholetime Directorindiainfoline.com
- 7Castrol India Ltd appoints Mr. Udayan Sen as Nominee Directorequitybulls.com
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