Brands
Castrol associates with KTM to enhance performance
Mumbai: Castrol has teamed up with KTM, a premium motorcycle brand. Castrol POWER1, the company’s performance lubricant will be powering the upcoming second season of its much-awaited KTM Cup 2024 as the official performance partner. This association is strategically aligned with the brand’s increasing focus on driving and strengthening performance motorsports in India. KTM Cup is India’s largest Racing Championship that attracts participation from all over the country.
On this energetic partnership, Castrol India Ltd VP and head of marketing Rohit Talwar said, “I am excited to unveil our dynamic collaboration with KTM as a performance partner. As a first we will be powering the electrifying KTM Cup Season 2. This collaboration epitomizes our dedication to excellence and innovation in performance engine oils. By joining forces, we’re not just sponsoring a race but unleashing the full potential of KTM riders and machines alike. Get ready to witness the fusion of speed, precision, and endurance as Castrol’s cutting-edge technology meets the challenge of the track. This tournament will redefine the limits of performance, showcasing the unrivalled capabilities of Castrol in powering the KTM champions to victory.”
On this collaboration, Bajaj Auto Ltd president and BU head-probiking (KTM) Sumeet Narang said, “The second season of the KTM CUP represents KTM’s ongoing commitment to fostering a vibrant racing culture among enthusiasts. With over 1,000 proud KTM owners participating in the inaugural season, we’re excited to continue this journey with even greater fervor. As racing lies at the core of KTM’s DNA, boasting an impressive 341 plus world championship titles across various formats, our collaboration with Castrol engine oils as our Performance Partner further solidifies our dedication to excellence on the track. Together, we’re set to welcome women and amateur riders, fulfilling our promise of nurturing talent and turning ambitious enthusiasts into seasoned pro-bikers. As anticipation mounts for another adrenaline-fueled racing extravaganza, we invite fans across India to join us in the excitement of KTM CUP Season 2, where the thrill of racing awaits!”
The on-ground selections for India’s largest racing championship will be held in four cities starting from Coimbatore on 22 to 24 March, Delhi on 13 and 14 April, Mumbai from 26 to 28 April, and Kolkata on 11 and 12 May 2024.
Castrol’s long-standing legacy in moto-sports led to the development of Castrol’s POWER1 lubricants, designed specifically to enhance performance of motorcycles. The association with KTM Cup 2024 will substantially exhibit the power and prowess awarded by Castrol POWER1 range of lubricants. After rigorous pan-India selections and final race, the final winners of the KTM Cup 2024 will have a chance to be trained by MotoGP legends and champions at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria.
Brands
Godrej clarifies ‘GI’ identifier after logo similarity debate
Says GI is not a logo, will not replace Godrej signature across products.
MUMBAI: In a branding storm where shapes did the talking, Godrej is now spelling things out. Godrej Industries Group (GIG) has issued a clarification on its newly introduced ‘GI’ identifier, addressing questions around its purpose and design following a wave of online criticism. At the centre of the debate were two concerns: whether the new mark replaces the long-standing Godrej logo, and whether its geometric design mirrors other corporate identities.
The company has drawn a clear line. The Godrej signature logo, it said, remains unchanged and continues to be the sole logo across all consumer-facing products and services. The ‘GI’ mark, by contrast, is not a logo but a corporate group identifier intended for use alongside the Godrej signature or company name, and aimed at stakeholders such as investors, media and talent rather than consumers.
The need for such a distinction stems from the 2024 restructuring of the broader Godrej Group into two separate business entities. With both continuing to operate under the same Godrej name and signature, the identifier is positioned as a way to differentiate the Godrej Industries Group at a corporate level.
The rollout, however, triggered a broader conversation on design originality. Critics pointed to similarities between the GI mark’s geometric composition and logos used by companies globally, raising questions about distinctiveness.
Responding to this, GIG said its intellectual property and legal review found that such overlaps are common in minimalist, geometry-led design systems. Basic forms such as circles and rectangles appear across dozens of brand identities worldwide, the company noted.
It added that the identifier emerged from an extensive design process and was chosen for its simplicity, allowing it to sit alongside the Godrej signature without competing visually. While acknowledging that elemental shapes may appear less distinctive in isolation, the group emphasised that the mark is part of a broader identity system that includes a custom typeface, sonic branding and other proprietary elements.
Following legal and ethical assessments, the company said it found no impediment to using the identifier, reiterating that the GI mark is a corporate tool not a consumer-facing symbol.
In short, the logo isn’t changing but the conversation around it certainly has.
