MRF (company)

{{Short description|Indian tyre manufacturing company}} {{Use Indian English|date=June 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}} {{Infobox company | name = | trade_name = | logo = | logo_size = | logo_alt = | logo_caption = | image = EXCON 2025, Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (338).jpg | image_size = | image_alt = | image_caption = MRF OTR Tyres at EXCON 2025, (BIEC) | type = Public | traded_as = {{BSE|500290}}<br />{{NSE|MRF}} | ISIN = {{ISIN|sl=n|pl=y|INE883A01011}} | predecessor =  | successor =  | founded = {{start date and age|df=yes|1946}} in Tiruvottiyur, Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu, India | founder = K. M. Mammen Mappillai | defunct =  | fate = | hq_location = | hq_location_city = Chennai, Tamil Nadu | hq_location_country = India | num_locations = | num_locations_year =  | area_served = Worldwide | key_people = {{ubl|K. M. Mammen (Chairman)|Rahul Mammen Mappillai (MD)}} | industry = {{ublist|Tyres|Rubber products}} | products = {{ublist|Tyres|Toys|Sports equipment|Conveyor belt|Paints|Coats}} | brands = | production = | production_year =  | services = | revenue = {{increase}} {{INRConvert|31654|c}} (2026)<ref name="pnl">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bseindia.com/xml-data/corpfiling/AttachLive/60f1144e-8523-4209-b896-2b9ea8607734.pdf|title=MRF Q4FY26 Results|website=mrftyres.com}}</ref> | operating_income = {{up}} {{INRConvert|3285|c}} (2026) <ref name=pnl/> | assets = {{increase}} {{INRConvert|31954|c}} (2026)<ref name=pnl/> | equity = {{increase}} {{INRConvert|20975|c}} (2026)<ref name=pnl/> | owner =  | num_members = | num_members_year =  | num_employees = 17,850 (2025) | parent = | divisions = | subsidiaries = | module =  | website = {{official URL}} | footnotes = | former_name = | net_income = {{up}} {{INRConvert|2426|c}} (2026)<ref name=pnl/> }}

'''MRF''', or '''MRF Tyres''', is an Indian multinational tyre manufacturing company and the largest manufacturer of tyres in India. It is headquartered in Chennai.<ref name="MRF">{{cite web |url=https://www.mrftyres.com/overview |title=MRF:Overview |date=14 February 2015 |access-date=14 February 2015 |archive-date=30 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230053924/https://www.mrftyres.com/overview |url-status=dead }}</ref> The abbreviation '''MRF''' comes from the company's initial days when it was called the ''' Madras Rubber Factory'''. The company manufactures rubber products including tyres, treads, tubes and conveyor belts, paints and toys.<ref name="Reuters">{{cite news|url=http://in.reuters.com/finance/stocks/companyProfile?symbol=MRF.BO |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214104152/http://in.reuters.com/finance/stocks/companyProfile?symbol=MRF.BO |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 February 2015 | title=Company Profile:MRF | work = Reuters| date=14 February 2015}}</ref> MRF was named the world's second-strongest tyre brand by Brand Finance, with a AAA− brand grade.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-04-13 |title=MRF is 2nd strongest tyre brand in world |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/mrf-is-2nd-strongest-tyre-brand-in-world/articleshow/99450000.cms |access-date=2023-04-14 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

MRF is also active in cricket and motorsports endorsements; it runs the MRF Pace Foundation and MRF Institute of Driver Development (MIDD) in Chennai.

[[File:EXCON 2025, Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (342).jpg|thumb|right|MRF OTR Tyres at EXCON 2025, (BIEC) ]]

== History == MRF was started by K. M. Mammen Mappillai as a toy balloon manufacturing unit in 1946 at Tiruvottiyur, Madras (now Chennai). In 1952, the company ventured into the manufacture of tread rubber.<ref name="MRF"/> Madras Rubber Factory limited was incorporated as a private company in November 1960 and ventured into manufacture of tyres in partnership with Mansfield Tire & Rubber company based in Ohio, United States.<ref name="NDTV">{{cite web|date=14 February 2015|title=MRF Limited|url=http://profit.ndtv.com/stock/mrf-ltd_mrf/reports|publisher=NDTV}}</ref> The company went public on 1 April 1961 and an office was established in Beirut, Lebanon to develop the export market in 1964 and its current logo of the muscleman was born.<ref name="NDTV"/> In 1967, it became the first Indian company to export tyres to USA.<ref>{{cite web|title=Time line and milestones : MRF tyres 1946-1970|url=https://www.mrftyres.com/milestones/1946-1970|website=MRF Tyres website|publisher=MRF Tyres|access-date=12 August 2015}}</ref>

In 1973, MRF started manufacturing Nylon tyres for the first time. The company entered into with a technical know-how collaboration with B. F. Goodrich in 1978.<ref name="Indiainfo">{{cite web |url=http://www.indiainfoline.com/markets/company/background/company-profile/mrf-ltd/391 | title= Company background: MRF | date=14 February 2015}}</ref> The Mansfield Tire & Rubber Co sold out its share in 1979 and the name of the company was changed to MRF Ltd in the year. The company finalised a technical collaboration agreement with Marangoni TRS SPA, Italy for the manufacture of pre-cured tread rubber for retreading industry. MRF tyres supplied tyres to Maruti 800, India's first modern small car.<ref name="NDTV"/> In 1989, the company collaborated with Hasbro International, the world's largest toy maker and launched Funskool India. Also, they entered into a pact with Vapocure of Australia to manufacture polyurethane paint formulations and with Italian tyre manufacturer Pirelli for conveyor and elevator belt manufacture.<ref name="Indiainfo"/> During the year 2004–05, the product range of the company expanded with Go-kart & rally tyres and tyres for two/three wheelers.{{citation needed|date=July 2025}}

==Products== *It manufactures various tyres for passenger cars, two–wheelers, trucks, buses, tractors, light commercial vehicles, off–the–road tyres and aero plane tyres,<ref name="Reuters"/> MRF ZVTS<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-06-16|title=What Are The Best Tyre Brands 2020? - Caringlyyours|url=https://www.caringlyyours.com/best-tyre-brands/|access-date=2020-06-24|website=Caringly Yours|language=en-US|archive-date=14 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814083206/https://www.caringlyyours.com/best-tyre-brands/|url-status=dead}}</ref> and MRF Wanderers for cars and SUVs, MRF Meteor all terrain tyres, MRF Steel Muscle for trucks and buses.<ref name="Indiainfo"/> *MRF ZLX is the latest one which is well known for its comfort in passenger segment.{{citation needed|date=July 2025}} *Conveyor Belting – manufactures its in-house brand of Muscleflex conveyor belts.<ref name="Indiainfo"/> *Pretreads – MRF has the most advanced pre-cured retreading system in India. MRF forayed into retreading in 1970 and manufactures pretreads for tyres.<ref name="Indiainfo"/> *Paints – manufactures polyurethane paint formulations and coats used in automotive, decorative and industrial applications.<ref name="Reuters"/>also indigenous Air craft tyres like Su 30 MKI fighter for Indian Air Force.{{citation needed|date=July 2025}}

==Manufacturing facilities== # Kottayam Plant in Kerala # Puducherry Plant # Goa Plant # Perambalur district, Tamil Nadu (Trichy Radial Plant) # Perambalur district, Tamil Nadu (Trichy Bias Plant) # Arakonam Plant in Tamil Nadu # Tiruvottiyur Plant in Chennai, Tamil Nadu # Medak Plant in Telangana # Ankenpally Plant in Telangana # Dahej Plant in Gujarat

The company also manufactures toys at its facility in Goa. The paints and coats are manufactured at two facilities in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mrftyres.com/paints-and-coats|title=MRF Paints and Coats|access-date=14 February 2015|archive-date=1 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601193938/https://www.mrftyres.com/paints-and-coats|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Funskool== {{main|Funskool}} Funskool India was established in 1987 in collaboration with Hasbro toys, US. Funskool manufactures and markets toys, board games among others. It has a manufacturing facility in Goa, India. The company has manufacturing licenses for toys and games from Disney, Warner Brothers, Rummikub etc. Funskool also has partnerships with renowned toy brands such as Hasbro, Lego, Hornby, Ravensburger, Tomy Toys, LeapFrog, Siku Jumbo, and New Bright for manufacturing and marketing in India.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.funskoolindia.com/about-us/our-company | title = Funskool India | date=14 February 2015}}</ref>

==Motorsports== === MRF Racing ===

MRF built its first Formula 3 car in 1997.<ref name="MRF Racing">{{cite web|url=https://www.mrftyres.com/mrf-sports|title = MRF Sports}}</ref> MRF in collaboration with Maruti established the Formula Maruti racing, a single-seater, open wheel class motorsport racing event for race cars made in India.<ref name="NDTV"/> MRF Challenge is a Formula 2000 open-wheel motorsport formula based series organised by Madras Motor Sports Club in association with MRF. The latest season consisted of races organised at Madras Motor Racing Track, Chennai, Bahrain International Circuit, Losail International Circuit, Doha and Buddh International Circuit, Noida. Freddie Hunt, son of {{F1|1976}} Formula One champion James Hunt and Mathias Lauda, son of {{F1|1975}}, {{F1|1977}} and {{F1|1984}} Formula One champion Niki Lauda both competed in the series.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/114968|title=The sons of James Hunt and Niki Lauda to race in MRF series|last=Simmons|first=Marcus|date=15 July 2014|work=Autosport|publisher=Haymarket Publications|access-date=15 August 2014}}</ref> MRF has sponsored Indian racing drivers including Narain Karthikeyan, Karun Chandok, Ashwin Sundar, N. Leelakrishnan and Raj Bharath.{{citation needed|date=October 2025}}

===MRF rally team=== MRF is the first and only Indian manufacturer to have won the Team Championship at the prestigious FIA European Rally Championship, not once, but twice in 2022 and 2023.

MRF have also been a long-running sponsor of an MRF rally team participating in the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship and Indian National Rally Championship. Associating with Czech car manufacturer Škoda, MRF Skoda is the three time reigning champion in the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship with Chris Atkinson winning in 2012, Gaurav Gill in 2013, Jan Kopecký in 2014,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rally.com.au/world-news/kopecky-wins-aprc-for-team-mrf |title=Kopecky wins WRC for MRF |publisher=rally.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129084902/http://www.rally.com.au/world-news/kopecky-wins-aprc-for-team-mrf |archive-date=29 November 2014 }}</ref> Pontus Tidemand in 2015 and Gaurav Gill again in 2016 and 2017. MRF also participates in Raid De Himalaya, the world's highest rally.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.northindiatimes.com/news/122/ARTICLE/1902/2009-09-02.html |title = Raid de Himalaya 2009 from October 5, 2009 |access-date = 2010-03-30 |date = 2009-09-02 |work = North India Times|url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100101040049/http://northindiatimes.com/news/122/ARTICLE/1902/2009-09-02.html |archive-date = 1 January 2010}}</ref>

MRF entered the European Rally Championship in 2020, with WRC Hyundai driver Craig Breen and Emil Lindholm driving for the team.

MRF remained in ERC for 2021 and also joined several other rally championships. Craig Breen, along with Italian Simone Campedelli are set to participate in European Rally Championship. Campedelli, along with eleven-time Italian rally champion Paolo Andreucci and the 2017 ERC Ladies champion Tamara Molinaro will use the tyres while competing in the Italy Gravel rally championship. Emil Lindholm left ERC and instead will focus entirely on testing the tyres on the gravel roads of Finland. After the 2021 Rally di Roma Capitale, Breen was replaced by other Hyundai drivers, Jari Huttunen and Dani Sordo, as well as Nil Solans later on.

MRF entered Norbert Herczig, Simone Campedelli and the 2021 runner-up Efren Llarena for the 2022 campaign, with Llarena taking his first win during 2022 Rallye Azores.

In 2023, Team MRF Tyres successfully defended their FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) Teams’ title with a dominant performance. Latvian driver Martins Sesks, alongside co-driver Renars Francis, secured back-to-back victories at Rally Poland and Rally Liepaja, making Sesks the only driver to win multiple rallies that season. Additional podium finishes by teammates Efrén Llarena and Sara Fernández at Rally Islas Canarias, and consistent performances from Simone Campedelli and Tania Canton, contributed to the team’s success. MRF Tyres clinched the championship with two rounds to spare, finishing 54 points ahead of their nearest rivals, BRC Racing Team.

The 2024 season presented new challenges for Team MRF Tyres, who ultimately finished second in the ERC Teams’ Championship with 167 points, trailing BRC Racing Team. Despite the setback, the team celebrated a significant victory at the season finale, Rally Silesia in Poland, where Italian driver Andrea Mabellini and co-driver Virginia Lenzi claimed their maiden ERC win. Mabellini’s triumph was particularly noteworthy, as he became the first Italian in 13 years to win a European rally outside Italy.

===MRF Motocross=== MRF promotes a national motocross championship, a form of all-terrain two wheeler racing held on enclosed off-road circuits annually across several cities.<ref name="MRF Racing"/>

===MRF Karting=== MRF sponsors major karting championships in India. MRF is the first Indian tyre company to develop FIA approved karting tyres.<ref name="MRF Racing"/>

==Cricket== ===MRF Pace Foundation=== {{Main|MRF Pace Foundation}}

MRF Pace Foundation is a coaching clinic for training fast bowlers established by MRF with the help of former Australian Pace spearhead Dennis Lillee in Chennai, India. Through this program, young aspiring fast bowlers are trained in a special facility. Fast bowlers who trained with foundation and went on to represent the Indian Cricket Team include Javagal Srinath, Irfan Pathan, Munaf Patel, Venkatesh Prasad, R. P. Singh, Zaheer Khan and S Sreesanth. Besides Indian players, foreign players like Chaminda Vaas, Henry Olonga, Heath Streak and Australian fast bowlers Glenn McGrath, Mitchell Johnson and Brett Lee have also trained at the foundation. Sachin Tendulkar in his early days trained in the MRF Pace Foundation to become a fast bowler. Glenn McGrath was appointed director of the Foundation on 2 September 2012, replacing Dennis Lillee, who has held the post since its inception in 1987.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/current/story/580431.html |title = McGrath takes charge of MRF Pace Foundation| publisher=Espncricinfo}}</ref>

===Endorsement=== MRF has been the bat sponsor for many influential cricketers including Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara and Steve Waugh.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/sport/cricket/sachins-innings-with-mrf-ends/article21753.ece|title=Sachin's innings with MRF ends|newspaper=The Hindu}}</ref> Currently MRF is endorsed by Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-03-04 |title=MRF announces Shubman Gill as brand ambassador |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/mrf-announces-shubman-gill-as-brand-ambassador/articleshow/118715863.cms |access-date=2025-05-19 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.oneindia.com/sports/cricket/virat-kohli-earns-rs-8-crore-mrf-ad-on-his-bat-ms-dhoni-team-india-2047409.html|title=Virat Kohli earns Rs 8 crore for MRF ad on his bat, rakes in Rs 2 crore more than MS Dhoni}}</ref> MRF has also sponsored Indian batsmen Rohit Sharma,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/even-i-am-guilty-of-getting-carried-away-but-sachin-has-stayed-grounded/1191324/|title=Even I am guilty of getting carried away but Sachin has stayed grounded|newspaper=The Indian Express}}</ref> Gautam Gambhir, Sanju Samson, Shikhar Dhawan and Mignon du Preez.

====Previous endorsements==== * Sachin Tendulkar – India. Conqueror, Genius, Wizard * Virat Kohli – India. Conqueror, Genius. * Brian Lara – West Indies. Genius (previously), Wizard, Wizard 400 (named in honour of the 400 not out he made against England at the Antigua Recreation Ground) in 2004 * Steve Waugh – Australia. Conqueror * Gautam Gambhir – India. Genius * Sanju Samson – India. Wizard *Shikhar Dhawan – India. Genius *Prithvi Shaw – India. Genius, Prodigy PS 100 * AB de Villiers – South Africa. Genius * Shubman Gill – India. Genius

===Sponsorship=== At IPL 2010, MRF sponsored moored balloons floating above the cricket grounds with a high-definition camera recording live actions of the cricket match. MRF joined as a global partner of International Cricket Council for 2015 Cricket World Cup.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.zigwheels.com/news-features/news/mrf-becomes-global-partner-for-icc-cricket-world-cup-2015/20446/|title=MRF becomes global partner for ICC|publisher=Zigwheels}}</ref> In 2017, MRF became the sleeve sponsor for the Premier League clubs Newcastle United,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/mrf-named-shirt-sleeve-sponsor|title=MRF named shirt sleeve sponsor|website=Newcastle United Football Club|date=8 September 2017 |language=EN|access-date=2018-03-29}}</ref> West Ham United F. C.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2017/september/08-september/mrf-announced-west-ham-uniteds-first-ever-shirt-sleeve|title=MRF announced as West Ham United's first ever shirt sleeve sponsor|website=West Halm Football Club|language=EN|access-date=2018-03-29}}</ref> and official tyre partner for West Bromwich Albion.

==Awards and recognition== MRF won the JD Power Award for the record 11th time in 2014.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/MRF-gets-JD-Power-award-for-10th-time/articleshow/24935923.cms|title=MRF gets JD Power award for 10th time|newspaper=The Times of India}}</ref> The company has won several awards and accolades including the All India Rubber Industries Association's (AIRIA) award for 'Highest Export Awards (Auto Tyre Sector)', 'Top Export Award' from Chemicals & Allied Products Export Promotion Council (CAPEXIL) for 2009–10. In 2014, MRF was ranked 48th among India's most trusted brands according to the Brand Trust Report, a study conducted by Trust Research Advisory.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.trustadvisory.info/allindia_2014.html |title=India's Most Trusted Brands |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502221904/http://www.trustadvisory.info/allindia_2014.html |archive-date=2 May 2015 }}</ref>

== Anti competition practices == In April 2022, the Competition Commission of India raided the headquarters of MRF along with other tyre companies like Apollo Tyres, CEAT and Continental Tyre at multiple locations. Earlier in February the anti trust watch dog had released a statement about fining these tyre companies a total of Rs 1788 crores (of which MRF fined Rs 622.09 cr.) for sharing price sensitive information among themselves to manage their cartelization of tyre prices for supplies to the public transport corporation of Haryana state. Earlier the All India Tyre Dealers Federation had complained to the Ministry of corporate affairs about this cartelization of these companies to increase the tyre prices. The ministry had then referred the case to the CCI.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-03 |title=CCI Conducts Raids On Tyre Companies |url=https://www.cartoq.com/cci-conducts-raids-on-tyre-companies/ |access-date=2022-04-04 |language=en-US}}</ref>

==See also== * CEAT (company) * Apollo Tyres

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{commons category}} * {{Official website|https://www.mrftyres.com}}

Category:Companies based in Tamil Nadu Category:Manufacturing companies based in Chennai Category:Cricket equipment manufacturers Category:Tyre manufacturers of India Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1946 Category:Indian companies established in 1946 Category:Indian brands Category:Companies listed on the National Stock Exchange of India Category:Companies listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange Category:Indian companies established in 1960