THE Dunlop tyre brand, which celebrates its 130th anniversary this year, has won the tyres category in the 2017/2018 Ask Afrika Icon Brands Survey, its sixth win in this category since 2011.
The Ask Afrika Icon Brands Survey, run by Target Group Index Southern Africa, surveyed over 30 000 consumers representing nearly 25 million adult South African consumers.
Yvette Govender, Director Marketing and Business Development at, Sumitomo Rubber South Africa (SRSA) (pictured), manufactures of the Dunlop brand, said: “We are delighted that despite the prevailing tough economic conditions, Dunlop consumers have remained loyal to the brand”.
“Dunlop remains strongly focused on customers and delivering quality products, backed up with excellent service. Clearly, this is paying off in loyalty with South Africans voting for their favourite tyre with their wallets and their hearts,” she added.
She said SRSA was investing heavily in ensuring that Dunlop produces solutions developed for African conditions and driven by the needs of its customers. In addition to serving independent retailers, Dunlop’s retail concepts are designed to satisfy every sector of the market.
Dunlop is also establishing a foothold in the Original Equipment (OE) market, with the selection of the Dunlop Grandtrek AT25 as the OE tyre for the Toyota Hilux Black Edition and Toyota Fortuner 18-inch derivatives, and the Grandtrek AT1 radial tyre which has been an Original Equipment specification on selected Toyota Landcruiser 70 Series models.
Recent Dunlop tyre innovations in the 4×4 and sport utility vehicle (SUV) market include the all-terrain Grandtrek AT3G tyre, which was launched as an enhancement of the Grandtrek AT1, while in the passenger market the new SP Sport FM800 is gaining traction.
To support growing demand for high-quality passenger and SUV tyres, as well as truck and bus tyres, SRSA has since 2014 been progressing with a multi-billion-rand investment into its Ladysmith manufacturing plant. The second phase – the truck and bus radial (TBR) tyre manufacturing plant – will be launched in October 2018.
Earlier this year SRSA was also recognised for its business excellence in the categories of Investor of the Year and Enterprise Development Programme of the Year at the 5th Annual South African Premier Business Awards in January, hosted by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).