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l ISSUE 62 l September 2011 l DHS 10 /- l USD 5.99/- The Porsche Design Shisha Hot Products / Page 56 September 2011/contents Publisher Hamid Moaref Editor Ali Reza Sub Editors Sonja Baikogli Sherry Chen Sales & Marketing Automotive / Page 18 Dilash Divakaran Ahmad Design Shabeer Azeez Circulation Assistants Ansar Ali akbar Sasi Pillai Contributors Peter Baikogli Arezou Marzara Farsh Shafikhani Kristen Koulic Media Representative for Taiwan. Hong Kong and China P. Sean Mulvihill, International Relations Department,Worldwide Services Co., Ltd. 11F-2, No. 540, Wen Hsin Road, Section 1, Taichung, 408, TAIWAN. Tel.: +886-4-2325-1784 Distributor Dar Al Hikma Publishers Note : All images, designs,lay out and advertise- ments are copyrighted. Any attempt to recreate, plagiarize or copy in part or in whole is violation of international copy- right laws. While compiling this issue of Tires & Parts, IMPERIUM Bentley Apollo tires launches coffee The interior design of the new the utmost care and attention has been given to ensure that all information is ac- Continental GT table book Mercedes B-Class curate. automotive / PAGE 21 Tires / PAGE 28 PARTS / PAGE 50 Morjan Media is not responsible for the accuracy of content provided by third party sources. To submit news and content please email to : [email protected] Please note: by submitting news and con- tent to Morjan Media for publication in The New beetle by ABT One in four drivers Iin the GCC 26 Dubai International Motor Show set 45 Tires & Parts you automatically agree that 12 Morjan Media is not obliged to publish does not check their tires for Sellout Success this content. Furthermore,Morjan Media 46 reserves the right to further edit and or The CR-Z MUGEN concept 16 Continental Gains Approvals from 30 The future shape of multimedia reduce the size of any content or news Mercedes from Mercedes-Benz stories sent publication. Bmw X6 Lumma Version 20 Nankang wins Top 100 Taiwan Rolls-Royce expands Bespoke 52 brand award 32 Operation 5 TIA applauds Tires & Parts’ efforts to bring the latest tire and automotive news to the Middle East. Morjan Media L.L.C For more information on TIA, visit www.tireindustry.org P.O.Box 7830, Dubai, U.A.E For administrative inquiries or for a copy of our media kit please Contact : +971 4 2270096 / [email protected] / www.tirespartsmag.com www.tirespartsmag.com l 4 Please tell us a little about yourself and Being “green” is being talked about more While it has not always been easy for us, our setbacks how you started out in the industry. and more in the automotive world. What have only anchored our business to be stronger and does A-map do to be environmentally more experienced. The only regret would be that Al Muqarram Group was founded by my responsible? we did not re-enter the industry earlier, as we have father, Sabir Badami, starting out in the always had the experience and know how to deliver early 60s initially as a trading company in The most challenging ‘green’ product to specialized products and customer service. Pakistan, dealing in auto parts and tires. deliver in our industry is the automotive In 1988 he moved to the UAE where Al battery ,as it produced with raw materials What new products does A-MAP have coming Muqarram Trading was established as that can be environmentally challenging to down the pipeline? a commodity trading business, trading dispose of. A-MAP makes it a point not to sell As a company, A-MAP is focused on the industry we various commodities like grains, foods, any used batteries to scrap yards, as we can’t are in and how it progresses. We have been involved in automotive parts, and other building be sure of their disposal or recycle methods. automotive spare parts and batteries for a long time, materials. Al Muqarram grew very quickly To ensure we continue to be at the forefront of and since 2010 have been able to distribute the high across the GCC and parts of Africa, and environmental conservation, we collect and quality FENIX brand of tires to our customers. We plan in 1999 the first manufacturing unit, Al ship used batteries back to our suppliers that to further evolve within these three products, not Muqarram Industries, was established in have specific and dedicated facilities to reuse only in terms of trading but eventually into retailing Sharjah, where silicone sealants, adhesive and recycle the materials. The FENIX brand as we believe we have not only superior products, tapes and other construction materials tires that we distribute are also produced but also a specialized approach to customer service. are being produced and marketed to 14 using cutting edge green technology, regional countries. without utilizing highly aromatic oils that Can you tell me how your company has performed have been classified as carcinogenic. in the past 12 months? My father had a great passion for tires, batteries and parts and had a real desire What unique challenges and rewards come As mentioned earlier, we have had year on year to re-enter the automotive distribution from working in the automotive field? growth despite the economic turmoil over the past business, which he passed on to me. In 2001 few years, and we continue to expand. Compared Every industry comes with unique challenges we established Al Muqarram Auto Parts with the turnover from last year, we expect to grow a and rewards, and the automotive field is no (A-MAP) in bustling Dubai, specializing in further 50 percent, and are already on track to do so. different. The biggest challenge A-MAP has the distribution of aftermarket automotive met is counteracting the many substandard What new markets have you looked at? spare parts, batteries, tires and lubricants. and ultimately unsafe products on the We now operate a network of branch offices As well has having regional offices in South Africa, we market, which are popular due to the recent in Asia, Africa and North America, and have see North Africa as a very attractive market, and we economic crisis and the related focus on a world-leading portfolio of brand names are looking to expand into Algeria. We also expect to saving money. We pride ourselves on the high such as Solite, FENIX, Asimco brakes and expand into Russia very soon as the demand there is quality automotive products in our range, brake pads, RBI, Crown and Strada. steadily increasing. and we are happy to rise to the challenge The aftermarket industry has been of educating the public that paying a little Our warehousing facilities are continuing to expand, “going global” and we’re seeing many extra will ensure a much better product and and we expect to have a newly opened warehouse companies expand their markets. What assure them of their safety and that of their in Jebel Ali Free Zone by the end of 2012 to respond are A-MAP’s plans and initiatives? families. to the demands for smoother logistics. Ultimately, this will result in better supply chain management The aftermarket industry is growing Of course there are also plenty of rewards. and improved logistics, adding to the growth of our incredibly fast, and while we are currently The industry itself is ever growing, even business overall. expanding into new markets, having after the economic slump, and A-MAP has already established operations in Africa, grown by over 300 percent since 2009, and What are the key growth areas you looking at? Asia and North America, we are trying we expect to double in size by 2013. People Over the next twelve months most of A-MAP’s focus to differentiate A-MAP from the typical don’t stop driving cars, it’s the most popular will be on the growth of our Solite brand of batteries, trading mentality, and focus on the service mode of transport, and the buying power of as it is a top brand that is well recognized throughout element that is so readily neglected by individuals continues to improve. People are the world and has significant room for growth in the other companies. We provide a complete investing in vehicles, and it is an industry that region. ASIMCO brakes and brake pads are also an distribution solution to our customers. Our will never die out regardless of economic internationally recognized brand that we intend to supply chain management is impeccable, conditions. continue to champion throughout our distribution and we ensure our customers receive their What do you consider your greatest channels. Though tires are a new venture for A-MAP orders in time as per their requirements as success? Biggest regret? in the region, the FENIX brand is of high quality and is well as increased follow-up post-delivery. a product that has auto acceptance in the market. A-MAP has entire technical teams for each A-MAP has had many successes that we What do you see as the greatest achievements in division of our business ready to deliver are proud of, however one of our biggest your company’s history? service on any issue that our customers breakthroughs with the company was may encounter. bringing the Solite brand of batteries on Many people see working for a company in Dubai board to the region. Solite is a highly reliable as transitory and short-lived, however we take We are also planning to further expand automotive battery that satisfies car lovers all pride in the fact that A-MAP has had a 100 percent into Africa, as it is an increasingly attractive over the world, and is the exclusive battery to holding rate of employees since its establishment.