CHARISMATIC BUSINESSMAN

India Today
Published On: 29 Dec 2015

Aston Martin's 'Nawabi' connection

Aston Martin and its Indian connection

Aston Martin are yet to hit the Indian roads officially and as of now there aren’t many Indians clamoring for the “Bond” car. But then the company is keen on getting Indian green card status very soon. They have manufactured the limited edition Aston Martin One-77 super sports car and would be start taking bookings from across the world. But then inspite of not getting or even hoping of getting a booking from India, they already have a connection with India. A relatively small time enterprise which is based in Lucknow, Chopra Retec Rubber Products supplies the hanger holding the exhaust pipes of the Aston Martin One-77 super sports car.

It so happened that last year in September, the British sports car maker was having some troubles with the suspension hanger of the then concept Aston Martin One-77 super sports car. An SOS was sent across to the world, of which Chopra Retec Rubber Products responded and were given two weeks of time to send in a prototype for approval from the British company. It is said that only 77 of these sports cars would be made and hence the exclusivity demands that the cars should be of very high quality. The CMD of the company, Kiron Chopra said that the British company was impressed with the way the sample was sent across to them with utmost importance and urgency. Now, the Lucknow based OEM supplier would be one of the primary suppliers for all the future exhaust hanger developments as also be a part in upgrading the current exhaust hangers of production cars from the Aston Martin range.

Published On: 09 Feb 2011

Aston Martin's India connection - Lucknow-based supplier Chopra Retec Rubber Products has made the hanger that hold the exhaust pipe on the One-77.

Lucknow-based supplier Chopra Retec Rubber Products has made the hanger that hold the exhaust pipe on the One-77.

UK luxury carmaker Aston Martin’s limited edition One-77 supercar is yet to get an Indian customer, but it has an important India connection.

The hanger that holds the exhaust pipe has been made by Lucknow-based supplier Chopra Retec Rubber Products – a relatively small enterprise. Last September, Aston Martin was facing a problem with the suspension hanger of the One-77 – its most advanced super sportscar model. Only 77 cars were to be sold which meant that the exclusivity had to be complimented with very high quality. The supplier was given a couple of weeks to send a prototype for approval.

The Chopra team had to meet a tight deadline and parameters to bag the order. “The pace at which we reacted and moved impressed them and we were given the entire order for their One-77, which we successfully executed in record time,” says Kiron Chopra, the company’s CMD. Aston Martin “have in a way” shortlisted the Indian company as their primary vendors for all future exhaust hanger development and current upgradation of exhaust hangers for existing models.
Published On: 08 Feb 2011