MRF considering European car tyre import options
Having launched its European motorsport activities in 2016, MRF is planning to enter the wider European passenger car tyre market in the next 3-4 years.
Not only has leading Indian tyre maker MRF Tyres, launched its MRF Motorsport Tyres Europe operation during Autosport International 2016, the firm is also considering importing its passenger car tyres into Europe in the years to come. While MRF has been exporting to between 60 and 70 countries worldwide for some time now the majority of these are in Asia, with others in the Middle East, Africa and South America. A few speciality products aside, MRF hasn’t really been exporting to Europe before now.
Therefore, speaking to Tyres & Accessories during the course of the show, company representatives explained that MRF’s large and professional looking stand was about introducing MRF to a market – motorsport or otherwise – that is largely unaware of the MRF is the scale of the tyre maker. To this end the stand featured examples of MRF rally and open-wheel orientated motorsport tyres along with motorbike and karting fitments. All this was alongside a corporate video explaining the company’s presence in the truck, OTR and aircraft tyre segments too. As far as car tyres are concerned, in India MRF has tyre supply relationships with high profile OEMs such as Renault.
Back to tyres and to Europe, the plan is for MRF to enter the market with motorsport in what appears to be the first phase of a longer-term plan to bring more tyres to Europe. Right now – and for the next 1-2 years in particular – the focus is going to be entirely on MRF’s motorsport tyres.
For now there is said to be a real desire within the company to move forward. Asked why the move into Europe has taken place at the start of 2016, company representatives explained that it is because the tyre manufacturing capacity has become available and because Wigan-based motorsport tyre distributor “Service & Sport”, which also carries Silverstone, Federal and Syron tyres, has latched onto the opportunity.
At the end of 2015, MRF confirmed plans to invest £400 million in a new tyre factory in Gujarat state as well as further £440 million in upgrading existing production capacity.
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