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Car Maintenance

Zepto Joins Hands with Park+ to Offer Car Care Products

National, 29th November, 2024: In a significant move, India's rapidly expanding consumer internet brand, Zepto, has joined forces with Park+, a comprehensive one-stop shop for all car care needs. This partnership aims to bring 15 exceptional Park+ car care products to over 8 locations across the nation. The initiative is set to revolutionize the car care experience for owners seeking top-notch products like cleaning kits, comfort accessories, and maintenance tools.

Unlock Premium Car Care with Zepto and Park+

Under INR 200: Car Shampoo - A powerful cleaning agent that effortlessly removes dirt and grime from your vehicle's surface. Glass cleaner - Keeps your windshield crystal clear, enhancing visibility during drives. Scratch remover - Works wonders in removing those pesky scratches, restoring your car's shine. Dustbin - A convenient addition for keeping your car clean and organized.

With the increasing number of private cars on Indian roads, reaching 5 Cr+ and the demand for premium car care products soaring, quick e-commerce has become essential. Zepto and Park+ are working in harmony to provide car owners with accessible and affordable car care products. The convenience of having a wide range of products available in one place, delivered right to their doorstep, is a game-changer.

Park+ offers an extensive range of car care products within different price ranges. Under INR 500, you'll find travel neck pillows for added comfort during long drives and hanging tissue boxes for easy access. Microfiber cloths are perfect for cleaning and polishing. Under INR 1000, the car cleaning kit comes in handy for a thorough cleaning, while the 3 in 1 cushion provides multi-functional support. And for those looking for more comfort, the long back rest and tail bone cushion under INR 2000 offer excellent support.

Commenting on the Partnership

Mr. Amit Lakhotia, Founder & CEO of Park+, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership. He said, "At Park+, our goal is to simplify the car ownership journey by providing innovative and user-friendly solutions. Teaming up with Zepto is a major milestone, allowing us to introduce a curated selection of 15 premium car care products to a broader audience. Car owners no longer have to navigate through multiple stores or waste time searching for high-quality products. They can now get everything they need for vehicle maintenance in one place, with the added convenience of doorstep delivery. We plan to expand our car care product offerings on Zepto to around 150+ products in the next 3 months."

Chandan Mendiratta, Chief Brand Officer of Zepto, shared his excitement as well. He stated, "We are delighted to collaborate with Park+ and bring high-quality car care products directly to our users' doorsteps. Speed and convenience are at the heart of Zepto, and this partnership enables us to enhance our product range to include essential car care items. We are grateful to our sellers for making this possible. With Park+ products available on our platform, users can enjoy easy access to these items with the speed and reliability that Zepto is renowned for, thereby enhancing their overall shopping experience."

The Impact on Car Owners

The addition of Park+ products on Zepto showcases the company's commitment to offering a diverse selection of everyday essentials with unrivaled convenience and speed. Car owners in Zepto's service areas can now effortlessly access premium car care items, knowing that they will be delivered swiftly and seamlessly right to their doorstep. This partnership not only saves time but also ensures that car owners have access to the best car care products, enhancing the overall care and maintenance of their vehicles.

Tesla has recently introduced a significant addition with its latest software update. This update brings a new service feature that provides a clear and accessible record of past repairs and maintenance. Over the past few weeks, the company has been preparing to deploy software update 2024.38.4, which includes this innovative Service History feature. It allows technicians to effortlessly view past maintenance and repair details, as initially spotted by a source who shared screenshots with Not a Tesla App. This feature is expected to simplify the diagnosis and fixing of interconnected issues using previously listed Correction Codes.

Benefits for Service Personnel and Owners

While Tesla's service employees rely on internal codes to list and indicate past maintenance, this new feature proves to be extremely helpful, especially when a vehicle is being repaired by a different technician than the one who performed previous repairs. Moreover, Tesla owners can also access the Service History feature directly from the main page of their electric vehicle's Service Mode. It is a permanent fixture in Tesla's vehicles, with entries that cannot be edited or removed once added and including specific timestamps. In addition, owners can even add entries for routine maintenance tasks that do not require a technician, such as adding windshield wiper fluid.Below are a few screenshots of the Service History feature shared by Mahtava via Not a Tesla App this week:
Credit: Mahtava (via Not a Tesla App)
Credit: Mahtava (via Not a Tesla App)
Credit: Mahtava (via Not a Tesla App)

Other Enhancements in the Update

In addition to the Service History feature, software update 2024.38.4 also includes the addition of a setting that enables users to select "areas of concern" on their vehicles. This is useful when owners want technicians to focus on a specific area of the electric vehicle. The update also incorporates a long-awaited feature that reduces battery drain when using Sentry Mode, as originally hinted at by Tesla's former VP of Powertrain Drew Baglino in February.These fixes are part of Tesla's efforts to overhaul its service division. Many owners have shared their less-than-ideal experiences with having their EVs repaired and serviced. Some have had to endure long wait times to get their vehicles fixed, especially as the number of Tesla owners on the road continues to grow.What are your thoughts? Feel free to reach out to us at zach@teslarati.com, find me on X at @zacharyvisconti, or send us tips at tips@teslarati.com.

Impact on Service Wait Times

Tesla owners have been complaining about extended service wait times that can reach nearly two months. This highlights the importance of these service enhancements and the need for improved efficiency in the service process. By providing a better record of maintenance and adding convenient features like the "areas of concern" setting, Tesla aims to streamline the service experience and reduce wait times for its customers.Overall, these updates demonstrate Tesla's commitment to improving the service aspect of its vehicles and addressing the concerns of its owners.

In recent years, many shops have witnessed an increase in customers expressing "sticker shock" upon seeing the cost of windshield replacements. This trend is not isolated but is part of a broader phenomenon in the auto repair industry. Alongside collision repair costs, windshield replacement prices for newer models have seen a significant rise.

Uncover the Hidden Costs of Windshield Replacements

Impact of Inflation on Auto Repair Costs

The Wall Street Journal recently reported on this issue in the broader auto repair industry. It highlights that inflation has played a role in the 28% growth of car maintenance and repair costs over the past three years. However, this is not the only factor contributing to the increased costs.Auto repair costs are affected by various elements, and one significant aspect is the additional labor required when working with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). These systems, such as blind-spot monitoring and automatic emergency braking (AEB), help enhance driver safety but also add to the complexity and time required for repairs.

The Auto Glass Industry's Dilemma

Internet forums are filled with queries like "When did windshield replacements become $700?" and responses indicating that this is a low estimate. Many owners of newer model vehicles complain that replacements on their cars can cost between $1,000 and $2,000. This shows the significant disparity in windshield replacement costs for different vehicle models and the challenges faced by the auto glass industry.In July 2024, Kelley Blue Book published an article for drivers titled "It May Cost More Than You Think to Replace a Windshield." The publication explains to consumers that ADAS components associated with the windshield need recalibration after a replacement. This extra process requires additional time and specialized work, which leads to higher costs.

Future Trends and Integration

With technological advancements and the passage of regulations like the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 127, which mandates AEB for new cars and light trucks starting in 2029, industry experts predict that ADAS will become even more integrated with windshield replacements. This means that customers can expect to see further increases in windshield replacement costs in the coming years.We are interested in hearing from you. How do you handle explaining windshield replacement costs, especially those associated with ADAS recalibration, to customers? Please share your thoughts by emailing abowman@glass.com.