Dunlop tyre has been reintroduced into the Nigerian market. In the late 70s and early 80s Dunlop was the name for tyres, at least in Nigeria. Tyre was synonymous to Dunlop, it became generic. Infact , bathroom flip flops were called Dunlop, largely because of their springy nature. The going was good for many years, the problems started and the exit was not all of a sudden. The tell tale signs were there. The company could no longer cope with the epileptic and the almost non existing power supply. It had to move, and it went. Dunlop may but have added a new stanza to the prose that says its story, the company is back to Nigeria.
The new story of the iconic brand in Nigeria, the euphoria, is able to dissipate the feeling created when after 45 years of tyre production Nigeria, Dunlop had to close its N8billion tire plant due to the persistent power cuts that has more than tripled the cost of production and reduced the company’s ability to make a profit. Impaired by persistent power outage, epileptic gas supply, rising cost and failed government policies, Dunlop plc’s board has approved a “strategic redirection” of the company, ending its 45 years history of manufacturing.
The company has also suffered from inconsistent government tariff policies, some of which made nonsense of business plans predicated on production, a situation which placed importers of tyres at an advantage over genuine local manufacturers.
Then, Dunlop produced both car and truck tyres in its factory at Ikeja in Lagos State. This accounted for 15 percent of tyre consumption in the country. The remaining 85 percent is imported into the country by big tyre importers such as Michelin, Bridgestone, Pirelli, and Goodyear as well as imports from Asia and Eastern Europe.
CEO of Dunlop South Africa, Mr Riaz Haffejee said a local firm Somotex Nigeria Limited will help in the distribution of its product across the country.
“We are fully committed to supporting SOMOTEX in re-building the Dunlop brand in Nigeria. As you can see, the new Dunlop tyre coming into the market is backed with warrantee. This is a sure sign of our commitment to the brand. Our plan is to continually ensure that Nigeria’s iconic brand – Dunlop is back on the wheels on Nigeria roads ensuring safety, better performance and above all value for money.” he added.
Dunlop Nigeria Plc has a very rich and enviable history. The company’s origin is directly linked to John Boyd Dunlop, a Briton who invented the world’s first practical pneumatic tyre in 1888. In 1889, a company was formed to develop the invention commercially. That company expanded rapidly internationally and spread its tentacles as far as Japan in 1909.
Dunlop Nigeria Plc was established in 1961 as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Dunlop Group. The company traded with the name Dunlop Nigeria Industries limited before the name-change in line with the policy of indigenization. The company’s primary business is manufacturing of quality tyres.
