§1What this business is
The lock body and lever-holding pin are pressure die-cast from zinc alloy, slotted on a lathe or milling machine, levers are punched on a power press, then levers, plunger and body are pinned together. Keys and small springs are bought in. The report works out the numbers for a two-wheeler handle lock; locks are made to the buyer's own design as there is no Indian Standard for them.
Capacity: 500 locks a day, 1,50,000 a year.
§2Is it right for you?
Who it is for
Someone with die-casting or auto-parts experience and buyer contacts.
Who it is not for
Someone without tool-room or die-making support nearby.
Advantages
- Every vehicle has several locks
- Both OEM and replacement markets
- Zinc die-casting is a proven small-unit process
- Good margins in the report
Drawbacks
- OEMs demand strict quality and approvals
- Key-and-lock security must be reliable
- Imports and big lock makers compete
- Many models and key combinations
Skills you need
- Pressure die-casting
- Press and machining work
- Assembly and testing
- Selling to OEMs and dealers
Why difficulty 3/5: Several machining steps and OEM quality demands.
§3Market
Who buys
- Two-wheeler and car makers (original equipment)
- Spare-parts dealers (replacement)
- Mechanics
How it sells
- OEM supply contracts
- Spare-parts wholesalers
Good to know
- The report says there is no IS specification for auto locks; they are made to the buyer's design.
§4Raw material & machinery
| Item | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure die casting machine, 150 g, with 200 lbs compressor | 1 | ₹3,00,000 |
| Lathe, 1,300 mm bed | 1 | ₹1,50,000 |
| Power press, 5 tonnes | 1 | ₹1,00,000 |
| Small milling machine | 1 | ₹50,000 |
| Manual surface grinder, 18" × 12" | 1 | ₹50,000 |
| Bench drilling machine, 15 mm | 1 | ₹25,000 |
| Injector for holding dies | 1 | ₹15,000 |
| Double-ended grinders, 10" wheel | 2 | ₹20,000 (₹10,000 each) |
| Fixtures, tools and dies | 1 lot | ₹25,000 |
| Electrification and installation | 1 lot | ₹50,000 |
From: PMEGP sample project report — Auto Lock (prepared by Udyami/Samadhan)
- Zinc alloy9,600 kg a year at ₹200 a kg
- Pairs of keys1,50,000 at ₹6
- Rivets and springs1,50,000 at ₹3
- Cardboard boxes1,50,000 at ₹3
- Brass strip72 kg at ₹167 a kg
From: PMEGP sample project report — Auto Lock (prepared by Udyami/Samadhan)
§5Licences & registration
- Udyam
- GST
- Pollution consent from the State Pollution Control Board (die casting)
- Trademark for your brand (optional)
§6Schemes & subsidies
- PMEGPCentralActive15–35% subsidy
- CGTMSECentralActiveNo collateral, up to ₹10 crore
- MudraCentralActiveLoan up to ₹20 lakh, no collateral
Made for PMEGP; CGTMSE covers the collateral-free loan.
§7Money
How the investment is worked out: Samadhan report: plant & machinery ₹7.85 L, furniture ₹0.75 L, pre-operative ₹0.35 L, working capital ₹7.72 L = ₹16.67 L; 2,000 sq ft rented.
Working capital: ₹7.72 L — 30 days of raw material and 30 days of finished stock; bank finance ₹6.94 L.
Year not printed on the report — check current machinery prices.
§8Export potential
Confirm the HS code in the DGFT ITC(HS) lookup before you export
Export council / board: EEPC India
- HS codes are from the WCO HS 2022 list; confirm the 8-digit ITC(HS) line with DGFT or your customs broker.
- You need an Import Export Code (IEC) from DGFT before the first shipment.
§9Risks — where people fail
- Zinc price rises
- Die wear and rejects
- OEM payment delays
- Model changes making dies obsolete
§1030 / 60 / 90-day plan
A general plan that applies to any business. A plan for this business will be added after research.
- Days 1–30: Visit a working auto lock manufacturing unit, ask 10 buyers about price and quantity, and get quotations from 3 suppliers.
- Days 31–60: Udyam and the licences you need (Udyam, GST), a project report (DPR), and the scheme or loan file.
- Days 61–90: Space and machines, trial production, and first deliveries to 10 customers.
§11Who to connect with
Associations, clusters and training institutes — the directory is being built. Connect
§12Watch
There is no episode on this business yet. Shows are coming soon on the Podcast page.
Want to start Auto Lock Manufacturing?
DPR, loan file or registration — ask us on WhatsApp.
¶Sources
Data review: 6 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Report it. For information only — not legal or financial advice.