Life of a Storyteller
MRF
2017
Madras Rubber Factory Limited, generally known as MRF, is an Indian multinational and one of the largest manufacturers of tires in India. It was started in 1946 (71 years ago) by K.M. Mammen Mappillai in Tiruvottiyur, Madras, Tamil Nadu. They began as a small toy balloon unit and established an overseas office at Bierut, Lebanon, to tap the export market. MRF was a small shed without any machines with a variety of products, where they produced from balloons to toys, industrial gloves, and contraceptives.
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In 1952, MRF endeavored into the manufacture of thread rubber, and with that, the first machine, a rubber mill, was installed at the factory. They manufactured the High standard quality of the product in India, and they had become the market leader with a 50% share of the Thread-Rubber markets.
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After the succession of thread rubber, they entered into the manufacturing of Tyres and established a partnership with the Mansfield Tire & Rubber Company of Ohio, USA. And with that, they also become a public company. The Foundation of Rubber Research Centre was laid by India’s first Prime Minister, Late Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, on June 12, 1963, at Tiruvottiyur.
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Now MRF manufactures rubber products including tires, tubes, threads, conveyor belts, paints and toys, and MRF also runs the MRF Challenge in Motorsport and MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai.
Challenge:
​K.M. Mammen Mappillai thought about starting a business in 1946. It was the time when people were curious and too desperate for India’s freedom, and His business could have fallen apart. Still, somehow, he ventured to run the manufacturing of toy balloon business in India. With his hard work and hope to build an empire for India made him the most successful businessman of our country.
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In 1971, MRF opened its factory in Goa, and it became the first Indian company to export tires in the US. It also made progress in the export of tires and established an export market in India. After that, MRF became a world-famous brand and even scored a breakthrough by being among the very first India to manufacture and market nylon passenger tires commercially. MRF developed tires for heavy-duty trucks, and it became the largest selling truck tire in later years.
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In 1977, MRF’s sales crossed Rs 2 Billion, and their turnover crossed Rs 1 Billion. In 1993 and 1995, MRF was voted by Far Eastern Economic Review as one of the ten leading corporations in India and a leader in Asia.
Strategies:
MRF manufactures many types of products such as Tyres (It manufactures various tires for passenger cars, trucks, two-wheelers, buses, tractors, light commercial vehicles, and off-road tires), Conveyor Belts and Pretreads. MRF became the No. 1 tire company of India in 1987 and 1997, MRF Launched MRF Motorsports.
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1. MRF Racing –
In the year of 1997, MRF built its first Formula 3 car. MRF launched the single-seater vehicle in collaboration with Maruti for open-wheel class motorsport racing events for race cars made in India. Madras Motorsports Club organized a Formula 2000 open-wheel motorsport formula based series as MRF Challenge in association with MRF.
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2. MRF Rally Team –
MRF has also been a sponsor of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship and Indian National Rally Championship.
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3. MRF Motocross –
For all two-wheelers, MRF promotes a national motocross championship across several cities.
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4. MRF Karting –
MRF is the first Indian tire company to develop FIA approved karting tires. MRF started Pace Foundation, Endorsement, and Sponsorship. In September 2012, MRF appointed Glenn McGrath as a Director of the Pace Foundation. They began coaching places for fast bowlers with the help of former Australian Bowler Dennis Lillee in Chennai India. Fast bowlers who trained with pace foundation and went to represent Indian Cricket and other teams include Irfan Pathan, Munaf Patel, R.P. Singh, Sreesanth, Zaheer Khan, Chaminda Vass, Henry Olonga, Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee, etc.
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MRF had been the bat sponsor for games. Many great players have endorsed MRF and reached milestones with the MRF bat. Batting Legends such as Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, and Steve Waugh have endorsed MRF. Currently, MRF is supported by Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, and AB De Villiers.
Conclusion:
MRF has more than 15000 employees, and its total profit is ₹ 802.21 crores, with the revenue of ₹ 13444.75 Crore. MRF became India’s No. 1 tire manufacturing company. MRF won JD Power awards for the 11th time in 2014. A JD Power award is the highest recognition in the automobile industry. In 2009-2010, MRF won the Top Export Award from Chemicals & Allied Products Exports Promotion Council. A study conducted by Trust Research advisory, According to the Brand trust report, MRF was ranked 48th among the most trusted brands around the globe.