In the year 1973-74, there was surplus capacity of tyres in India when availability was more than the demand. During the same time there was a boom in oil production in the Middle-East countries. Thus Infinity Tyres of Al Dobowi Group, was started in Dubai in 1976. The company is one of the leading distributors of tyres in Dubai and United Arab Emirates, with well-organised distribution network spanning across 65 countries worldwide and sales offices in Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Bahrain, Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, China, UK and Canada. The group also manufactures automotive and industrial batteries in Dubai.
In an exclusive interview to MOTORINDIA at the Tyre Expo held in Bangkok recently, Mr. Surender S. Kandhari, Chairman, Al Dobowi Group, says, “Tyre business was started by our family in 1942, in Vijayawada, in Andhra Pradesh. Since there was surplus tyre capacity in the country in the 70’s and since there was an oil boom in the same period in the middle-east, we started our branch in Dubai in the year 1976. We sell our private label tags of Infinity and Eternity brands in 65 countries worldwide. Our tyres are manufactured on a contract basis by leading Chinese tyre manufacturers. As for our batteries, we have a plant in Dubai in collaboration with Exide, USA for producing automotive batteries and our own research and development for ‘Eternity’ industrial batteries which we sell all over Europe.”
Mr. Kandhari believes in the age old saying “protect your good name”. According to him, giving good quality products is service to mankind. With the company registering a growth of nearly 20 per cent year on year, all over the world, 80 per cent of the overall business comes from its tyres and the rest from its batteries. With the demand for budget brand tyres increasing in UK, Infinity Tyres, with its economical pricing and good quality recorded a 50 per cent growth in the year 2013-14. With hard work, dedication and commitment towards the industry, the company aims to reach a total turnover of $1 billion in the next two years.”
As for the aftersales market, the Chairman says, “Our product portfolio consists of passenger car tyres, truck and farm tyres, OTR and mining tyres. Since there is no sale without service, aftersales service is very important for our group. We have re-treading plants in Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria and Ghana. We re-tread the old tyres and send them across. Our mobile vans help transport our batteries and tyres. We have a service centre in almost all the markets we are present. Our total tyre management service (TTMS) has been offering 24 hour service for Dubai Taxi for the past 6 years for their tyres and for the past 11 years for their batteries, on a contract basis.”
Mr. Surender S. Kandhari belongs to the third generation of the family followed by his sons, the fourth gen, as new entrants into the family business. More than the business of making money, the family believes in corporate social responsibility of giving back to the community. The group has built a temple for Sikhs in Dubai, which is also a community centre.