§1What this business is

CRCA sheet is cut, perforated and rolled into barrels; top and bottom caps are die-cast or pressed; filter paper, non-woven fabric or foam is pleated and riveted into the element, then assembled, tested for flow, pressure drop and efficiency, and packed. Buyers are spare-parts dealers, workshops and vehicle makers.

Capacity: Not printed in units; the plan runs at 40% capacity in year 1 rising to 60% in year 5.

§2Is it right for you?

Who it is for

Someone with sheet-metal or auto-parts experience who can reach spare-parts dealers.

Who it is not for

Someone who cannot keep tight quality on filter media and fit.

Advantages

  • Air filters are replaced at every routine vehicle service
  • Same set-up can make filters for generators and compressors
  • Filter media and metal parts are available in India
  • Moderate machinery cost

Drawbacks

  • Many models and sizes to stock
  • Branded filters dominate service centres
  • Testing for efficiency and pressure drop needs discipline
  • Rent and selling costs are high in early years

Skills you need

  • Sheet-metal pressing and die casting
  • Pleating and assembling filter media
  • Testing filtration efficiency
  • Dealer sales

Why difficulty 3/5: Moderate machinery, but many models and quality testing to manage.

§3Market

Who buys

  • Vehicle owners at routine service
  • Garages and service workshops
  • Vehicle and engine makers

How it sells

  • Auto spare-parts dealers
  • Direct supply to workshops and fleets
  • Supply to vehicle makers

Good to know

  • The report says every internal combustion engine uses an air filter, and cleaner air gives better combustion and fuel efficiency.

§4Raw material & machinery

ItemQtyCost
Treadle guillotine shearing machine——
Power press (5 ton in the flow chart)——
Tilting furnace, 10 kg aluminium, HSD-fired with 1 KVA blower——
Lathe (adda type) with 1 KW motor——
Milling machine (adda type) with 1 KW motor——
Surface grinding machine, manual feed, 2 KW——
Fly presses of different sizes——
Motorised hand shearing machine (sheet cutter)——
Spot welding machine 1 KVA and gas welding sets——
Buffing machine (8" wheel) and bench drilling machine (13 mm)——
Total plant and machinery (no item-wise prices printed)—₹12.50 lakh

From: PMEGP sample project report — Automotive Air Filter (prepared by Udyami/Samadhan)

  • CRCA sheetsfor canisters and perforated barrels
  • Cast aluminium / zinc or moulded plastic partstop and bottom rims and enclosures
  • Filter paper, non-woven fabric, wire mesh and PU foamchosen for wet strength, porosity, particle retention and flow rate
  • Rivets and fastenersall materials are available in India, says the report

From: PMEGP sample project report — Automotive Air Filter (prepared by Udyami/Samadhan)

§5Licences & registration

  1. GST
  2. Fire NOC
  3. Pollution control NOC (if applicable)
  4. Udyam registration
  5. BIS certification
  6. Labour licence
  7. Trademark (optional)

We can do this registration for you

§6Schemes & subsidies

PMEGP (the report was prepared for it), CGTMSE for a collateral-free loan, MUDRA up to ₹20 L.

§7Money

How the investment is worked out: Plant and machinery ₹12.50 L + furniture ₹0.50 L + other assets ₹1.00 L + working capital ₹7.78 L = ₹21.78 L; land and building rented (₹30,000–50,000 a month).

Working capital: Working capital ₹7.78 L (working capital loan ₹7.00 L).

Year not printed on the report — check current machinery and raw-material prices.

How to prepare a loan file

§8Export potential

Export council / board: EEPC India

  • The project report prints no HS code; look up the 8-digit ITC(HS) line on the DGFT website or with a customs broker before exporting.
  • You need an Import Export Code (IEC) from DGFT before the first shipment.

§9Risks — where people fail

  • Poor filters damaging engines and your name
  • Competition from big brands
  • Wrong stock mix of models
  • Rising sheet and media prices

§1030 / 60 / 90-day plan

A general plan that applies to any business. A plan for this business will be added after research.

  1. Days 1–30: Visit a working automotive air filter manufacturing unit, ask 10 buyers about price and quantity, and get quotations from 3 suppliers.
  2. Days 31–60: Udyam and the licences you need (GST, Fire NOC), a project report (DPR), and the scheme or loan file.
  3. Days 61–90: Space and machines, trial production, and first deliveries to 10 customers.

§11Who to connect with

Not verified yet

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 Automotive Air Filter Manufacturing?

DPR, loan file or registration — ask us on WhatsApp.

Get a DPR / loan file made

Sources

  1. PMEGP sample project report — Automotive Air Filter (prepared by Udyami/Samadhan)

Data review: 6 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Report it. For information only — not legal or financial advice.