# Automotive accessories case study: two RFQs in seven days > How SourceSquid ran two RFQs for a US automotive accessories brand: a textured ABS plaque and a cargo net kit, quoted in days and cut by 8.2%, then 4.3% more. Source: https://sourcesquid.co/clients/us-automotive-accessories/ Case study · Sourcing # Two RFQs, seven days, quotes that hold. In June 2026 SourceSquid ran two RFQs in India for a US automotive accessories brand: a textured ABS plaque and a cargo net kit. Quotes arrived in three to seven days, negotiation cut the unit price by 8.2% and then 4.3% more, and one material change saved 25.8% on the carabiner. [Start a program like this](https://sourcesquid.co/start/?from=case-us-automotive-accessories) [All case studies](https://sourcesquid.co/clients/) 8.2% lower unit price, first round 4.3% further, second round 25.8% saved by switching carabiner material United States · Automotive accessories ____Client name withheld **25.8%** saved by one material change * ABS moulding * Mold-Tech textures * Webbing * Die casting * Negotiation * Value engineering The brief ## What the client asked for. The client is a US automotive accessories brand. We keep its name confidential, as we do for every client who asks. It needed two new parts sourced to automotive standards: a textured ABS plaque at 3,000 pieces a year, and a cargo net kit at 30,000 to 45,000 kits a year, rising to 120,000. Requirements ### What had to be true * ISO 9001 as a minimum, IATF 16949 preferred * Four Mold-Tech texture zones and a Pantone-matched colour * D-rings rated to 500 lb minimum, with SGS or NABL certificates * Prices across the full volume ladder, up to 120,000 kits a year What we did ## Step by step, decision by decision. The real choices behind the result, in the order we made them. 1. 01 ### Plaque RFQ, issued on a 48-hour turnaround A 152.4 × 152.4 × 3.0 mm ABS plaque with four Mold-Tech texture zones, Pantone-matched masterbatch, a P20/H13 single-cavity tool, T1 and T2 samples and first-article inspection. OutputPlaque RFQ pack 2. 02 ### First plaque quote in three days A moulder in the NCR, in Faridabad, returned the first quote in three days, with 60 days for tool development. OutputQuote with tooling timeline 3. 03 ### Cargo net kit, split into three sub-assemblies Net panel, swivel carabiner and storage bag, each sent to the right specialist: webbing makers in Ahmedabad, a cargo-fittings maker, and a high-pressure die-casting shop in Bengaluru for the carabiner. OutputKit RFQ by sub-assembly 4. 04 ### Quality written into the RFQ D-rings rated to 500 lb minimum with SGS or NABL certificates, inspection at AQL 2.5 against a golden sample, and UV test data. OutputQuality and test requirements 5. 05 ### Negotiation, then engineering Negotiation lowered the unit price by 8.2% across the volume ladder, and a second round took a further 4.3%. Switching the carabiner from stainless steel to zinc-plated mild steel saved 25.8%. OutputNegotiated price ladder 6. 06 ### Tooling and lead time, locked in D-ring tooling amortises to about INR 2.2 a piece at 45,000 units. Lead time is 14 to 15 weeks for 45,000 kits. OutputTooling and lead-time plan The engineering detail ## The specification, line by line. ### Textured ABS plaque Size 152.4 × 152.4 × 3.0 mm Material ABS, Pantone-matched masterbatch Texture Four Mold-Tech zones Tool P20/H13, single cavity Samples T1 and T2, first-article inspection Quality system ISO 9001 min, IATF 16949 preferred Volume 3,000 pcs a year ### Cargo net kit Sub-assemblies Net panel, swivel carabiner, storage bag Volume 30,000–45,000 kits a year, rising to 120,000 D-rings 500 lb minimum, SGS or NABL certificate Inspection AQL 2.5, golden sample Testing UV test data Lead time 14–15 weeks for 45,000 kits What changed ## The results. * **8.2%** ### Lower unit price Across the whole volume ladder, from the first negotiation round. * **4.3%** ### Further reduction From a second negotiation round. * **25.8%** ### Saved by engineering Carabiner switched from stainless steel to zinc-plated mild steel. * **INR 2.2** ### Tooling per D-ring Amortised at 45,000 units. * **3–7 days** ### From RFQ to quotes First plaque quote in three days. * **14–15 wks** ### Lead time For 45,000 kits. What the client got ## Deliverables, in hand. * 01**Two RFQ packs** Drawings, textures, materials, volumes and quality requirements. * 02**Specialist shortlist per sub-assembly** Moulding, webbing, cargo fittings and die casting. * 03**Quotes across the volume ladder** From 30,000 to 120,000 kits a year. * 04**Two negotiation rounds** 8.2% and then a further 4.3% off the unit price. * 05**Engineering change** Zinc-plated mild steel carabiner, 25.8% saving. * 06**Tooling and lead-time plan** Amortisation and a 14 to 15 week lead time. ## At a glance Client Confidential Country United States Sector Automotive accessories Discipline Sourcing Headline result **25.8%** saved by one material change * ABS moulding * Mold-Tech textures * Webbing * Die casting * Negotiation * Value engineering [Start a program like this](https://sourcesquid.co/start/?from=case-us-automotive-accessories) Services used ## The services and tools behind this work. [Service**Product sourcing** Named factories, compared on landed cost.](https://sourcesquid.co/sourcing/)[Service**Tooling register** Every tool tagged, tracked and yours.](https://sourcesquid.co/services/tooling-register/)[Tool**RFQ builder** Build a clean RFQ pack in minutes.](https://sourcesquid.co/tools/rfq-builder/)[Tool**Should-cost model** Know the fair price before you negotiate.](https://sourcesquid.co/tools/should-cost/)[Atlas**Cargo nets and webbing in India** Clusters for webbing and straps.](https://sourcesquid.co/india-atlas/products/cargo-nets-webbing-straps/)[Atlas**Die castings in India** Aluminium and zinc die-casting clusters.](https://sourcesquid.co/india-atlas/products/aluminium-zinc-die-castings/) [← Previous case study**Woosh Air** Over USD 73,000 a month saved with a complete alternate supply chain.](https://sourcesquid.co/clients/woosh-air/) [Next case study →**WRA** Dutch city bikes, specified line by line and built in Ludhiana.](https://sourcesquid.co/clients/wra/) Your turn ## Start your own program. 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