The engine oil and lubricants industry is rapidly growing in the age of speed, as India is witnessing a logistics revolution powered by digitalization and energy efficiency.
In the bustling streets of India, a quiet revolution is underway — not just in apps, but in how goods are delivered. Whether it’s your favorite dish from Zomato or a 10-minute grocery drop from Blinkit, instant delivery has reshaped urban convenience.
However, behind this seamless speed lies something critical — the engines that power the delivery fleet. While the digital front captures the spotlight, it’s the lubricants and oil formulations that keep the real momentum going.
From groceries in 10 minutes to food on your doorstep in 20, companies like Zomato, Blinkit, Zepto, Dunzo, Swiggy, and Instamart are redefining how urban India consumes. But while the spotlight remains on these delivery giants, there’s another industry silently fueling this growth — the sustainable lubricant sector.
Behind every scooter buzzing through city traffic and every delivery van moving from warehouse to doorstep is an engine that needs care, protection, and high-performance lubricants. That’s where companies like RBM Oil Corporation come into play.
Digital Platforms Fueling India’s Demand for Delivery & Mobility, leading to the increasing demand for engine oil and lubricant
Zomato
- Type: Food Delivery App
- Logistics Expansion: Zomato has rapidly scaled its logistics network to ensure faster deliveries by optimizing last-mile delivery. It uses AI to route delivery partners efficiently, supports gig workers, and has invested in electric bikes for sustainability and energy efficiency. Their focus is also shifting toward 10-minute deliveries in some zones, expanding their dark kitchen network to support hyperlocal demand, in line with CASE technologies (Connected, Autonomous, Shared, Electric).
Blinkit (owned by Zomato)
- Type: Quick Commerce / Instant Grocery Delivery
- Logistics Expansion: Blinkit pioneered 10–20-minute grocery deliveries through strategically located dark stores and micro-warehouses. Logistics has expanded with demand, with thousands of delivery riders across urban centers. They use real-time inventory management, track & trace technology, and digital lubrication monitoring for vehicle performance enhancement.
Zepto
- Type: Quick Commerce / Grocery Delivery
- Logistics Expansion: Zepto relies heavily on a dense network of dark stores located within 2 km of high-demand residential areas. Their logistics model emphasizes data-driven, digitalized fleet operations and fleet optimization. With increased vehicle usage, there’s growing demand for synthetic lubricants and low-viscosity index oils designed for short, high-frequency trips.
Domino’s (India – Jubilant FoodWorks)
- Type: Quick-Service Restaurant (QSR)
- Logistics Expansion: Domino’s India has a robust in-house delivery system with a promise of 30-minute delivery. This requires well-maintained vehicles using gear oils, engine oils, and greases that can withstand rapid deliveries and urban traffic conditions.
KFC (India – operated by Yum! Brands)
- Type: Quick-Service Restaurant (QSR)
- Logistics Expansion: KFC India partners with delivery platforms like Swiggy, Zomato, and also has its own app. It’s expanding logistics by building centralized kitchens and improving integration with delivery apps for real-time tracking. This operational pressure highlights the need for high-performance additives, including anti-wear and oxidation inhibitors, to ensure vehicle reliability.
Swiggy
- Type: Food & Grocery Delivery App
- Logistics Expansion: Swiggy uses a hyperlocal model with a fleet of independent delivery partners. With initiatives like Swiggy Instamart, it has invested in AI-driven logistics, micro-warehouses, and connected fleet technologies. Their pilots involving electric vehicles (EVs) require EV-compatible fluids and bio-based lubricants.
BigBasket (now part of the Tata Group)
- Type: Online Grocery Delivery
- Logistics Expansion: BigBasket operates a hub-and-spoke model with large warehouses and smaller delivery hubs. With BB Now, it has moved into the quick commerce space, investing in efficient routing, digital supply chain management, and lubricants for high-mileage two-wheelers and vans.
🚗 Uber: Urban Fleet in Overdrive
Uber drivers run their cars for long hours in city traffic, leading to constant engine stress and quicker oil degradation. This increases the demand for long-drain, heat-resistant synthetic lubricants. For RBM Oil Corporation, this is a key segment for extended drain interval engine oils suited for ride-hailing fleets.
🛵 Rapido: Two-Wheelers on the Go
Rapido bikes handle hundreds of short trips daily, often in stop-start traffic. This puts a heavy load on the engine and gearbox, requiring frequent oil changes. RBM Oil Corporation offers durable, cost-efficient 2-wheeler oils with enhanced anti-wear additives, detergents, and nano-additives designed for urban gig economy usage.
IMPACTS:-
⚡ Instant Delivery = Instant Engine Stress
Increased demand for faster deliveries means more vehicles on the road, more frequent rides, and less idle time. Delivery partners, often riding two-wheelers or compact commercial vehicles, push their engines through stop-and-go traffic, rough roads, and extreme weather conditions.
The result?
- High engine temperatures
- Increased wear and tear
- Frequent oil changes are required
- A growing need for performance-enhancing lubricants with EP additives and viscosity index improvers
🌐 Modern Era of Convenience & Time-Saving: The Lifestyle Shift
- Changing Consumer Behavior
In today’s fast-paced urban lifestyle, convenience, speed, and reliability have become non-negotiable. People are increasingly relying on apps for food, groceries, medicine, laundry, cabs, and even parcel deliveries.
This shift is driven by:
- Busy work schedules
- Urban congestion
- A tech-savvy younger population
- Growing disposable income
- Increasing mobile and internet penetration
All of this supports explosive growth for digital platforms, and indirectly boosts demand for lubricants and fluids tailored to delivery fleets and electric mobility.
🚚 Logistics Growth Driven by On-Demand Economy
To meet rising expectations, these platforms have expanded their logistics arms significantly:
- Hyperlocal Delivery Models: Dark stores, micro-warehouses, cloud kitchens
- AI & Route Optimization: For efficient last-mile delivery
- Gig Workforce: Thousands of delivery partners operating around the clock
- Delivery Time Compression: 10–20-minute delivery is the new norm
This leads to constant fleet movement, creating high demand for automotive lubricants, greases, and hydraulic fluids.
🛢️ Impact on Lubricants & Engine Oils
With the surge in delivery fleets, there is a direct and rising demand for:
- Two-wheeler engine oils (e.g., API SP-RC, upcoming ACEA 2025)
- EV fluids and hybrid vehicle lubricants
- Gear oils for light commercial vehicles
- Specialty lubricants for extreme Indian weather
Key Drivers:
- Frequent short-distance trips
- Urban heat and congestion
- Wear-heavy conditions that need EP additives and oxidation-resistant oils
- OEM recommendations tailored for delivery platforms
⚡ Rising Demand in the Energy Sector
The logistics boom also contributes to:
- Higher fuel consumption (petrol/diesel) in Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities
- Increased electricity demand for EV charging infrastructure
- Growth in battery manufacturing and maintenance
The energy industry is responding with:
- Cleaner fuels
- Fuel-efficient lubricants
- Bio-marine fuels for coastal delivery zones
- Fleet-specific energy management systems
📱 How Mobile Convenience is Powering the Logistics and Lubricant Boom
In today’s hyper-connected world, the smartphone has become more than just a device — it’s a lifestyle enabler. With just a few taps, people can order food, groceries, medicines, clothes, and even appliances delivered right to their doorstep. This growing dependence on mobile apps — driven by faster internet, affordable smartphones, and intuitive user interfaces — has completely transformed consumer habits. Naturally, this surge in on-demand delivery is putting immense pressure on the logistics sector to scale up, operate faster, and reach deeper into both urban and semi-urban markets. But while most eyes are on the speed of delivery, what powers that speed often goes unnoticed — thousands of two-wheelers, vans, and e-rickshaws running nonstop.
🛢️ The Role of RBM Oil Corporation in India’s Delivery Economy
RBM understands this evolving market. Our products are designed for performance, durability, and sustainability in real-world Indian conditions.
🔹 1. Engine Oils for Two-Wheelers
- Designed for stop-go traffic
- Heat-resistant, long-lasting
- Cost-effective for gig riders
🔹 2. Gear Oils & Greases
- For small vans and e-rickshaws
- Reliable in monsoon, heat, and high-load conditions
🔹 3. Bulk Supply for Local Mechanics
- Support for aftermarket and quick-lube centers
- Compatible with a range of vehicle types and CASE technologies
📦 India’s Delivery Ecosystem: More Than Just a Trend
With growth forecasted beyond $10 billion by 2027, the lubricant industry has a key role in supporting:
- More fleet vehicles
- Urban and semi-urban delivery
- Greater need for sustainable, bio-based, and re-refined lubricants
The logistics boom also contributes to:
- Higher fuel consumption (petrol/diesel) — particularly in Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities
- Increasing electricity demand for EV charging infrastructure
- Battery manufacturing and maintenance demands rising with electric fleet adoption
RBM Oil Corporation is enabling this transformation — one oil change at a time.
🌍 The Bigger Picture: Sustainable & Scalable
We’re focused on reducing our environmental impact through:
- Carbon footprint reduction
- Extended drain products to cut oil waste
- Bio-degradable oils
- Fluids for offshore wind energy and offshore oil and gas logistics
💼 Business & Employment Opportunities
As the industry shifts, we’re also seeing new roles and business models emerge.
✅ Business Growth Opportunities
- EV fluids, eco-friendly lubricants, RRBOs
- Tie-ups with e-commerce platforms, delivery hubs
- Supply chain resilience and digital tracking
👷 Employment Opportunities
- Mechanics, service advisors, lube technicians
- Digital marketing roles in lubricant e-commerce
- Sales and warehouse logistics in upstream and downstream oil sectors
✅ Conclusion: The Road Ahead
Instant delivery is now a way of life. And it’s driving demand for technologically advanced, sustainable, and India-ready lubricants.
Whether you’re a fleet operator, delivery platform, or garage owner, RBM Oil Corporation is here to support your journey with products that last longer, perform better, and help you stay ahead.
📞 Visit rbmoilcorporation.com or contact us to know which RBM product is right for your fleet.
