The Kewalram Chanrai Group will set up a tyre manufacturing plant in Nigeria if the conditions are right, according to the director of a subsidiary, Afriventures Auto Division, Mr Anil Sahgal.
The Bridgestone and Firestone tyre brands, produced by the group, are exclusively imported and distributed in Nigeria by another subsidiary, Asahi Brands Limited.
Sahgal, who spoke at opening of a new Bridgestone/Firestone Service Centre on the Lekki-Epe Expressway in Lagos, said establishing a plant in Nigeria would require the government’s commitment, constant electricity supply and availability of raw materials.
The service centre, located at Ikota School bus-stop, was opened in partnership with a Nigerian company, Vico-Vis Commercial Enterprises.
Apart from selling Bridgestone and Firestone brands, the fully computerised service centre, which will serve those in Lekki, Victoria Garden City (VGC), Ajah and environs, will provide services such as wheel alignment and balancing, auto tyre changing, auto air compressing, among others.
Sahgal said the group partnered with Vico-Vis to further bring the brands closer to customers.
“Being the number one player in tyre, we feel that we should be close to customers. We have many of such partnerships in Port Harcourt, Lagos and Abuja, among others. So, if we find right-minded people who can sell the premium brand and the location is ideal and close to customers, we’re open for more of such partnerships,” he said.
On how the partnership works, Sahgal said: “We train their people, and we provide equipment and the right machines.”
Vico-Vis Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr Chukwuka Okafor, said his company went into the partnership because of the quality of Bridgestone/Firestone tyres.
“Their tyres are world-class, and the partnership agreement is fair to us. Our staff members have gone for training and our partners assure us that they’re very competent,” Okafor said.