‘Optimistic outlook for the automotive industry’
We caught up with Ravi Chawla, MD, Gulf Oil India, to learn about the brand’s association with Milwaukee BMW Racing Team
Gulf Monsoon Scooter Rally, etc, for more than a decade now. So it was a natural extension for us to get associated with motorcycle sport. Besides, this partnership gives us a great platform to test and fine-tune our oils meant for the motorcycle range. By the way, this is not the first time we are getting associated with motorcycle sport; we have been associated with Ian King and his racing team, Gulf Oil Dragracing Top Fuel Bike, for quite a few years now. BI : Gulf Oil has a range of two-wheeler lubricants. How do you think the association with WSBK will help?
As mentioned before, this partnership with Milwaukee BMW Racing Team will help us test our product offering for motorcycles. These motorcycles perform under extreme and varying climatic conditions. Hence, if our oil can meet and exceed the requirements under such demanding conditions, then it is a testimony to our product’s performance credentials.
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BI : In terms of business, what new products is Gulf planning to launch in India? Is Gulf Oil going to launch products for big bikes?
Scooter is one segment which is witnessing a rebound of sorts in its fortunes. Currently, the sales of scooters are witnessing a growth of 14 per cent (five-year CAGR). Accordingly, Gulf has launched Gulf Pride Scooter 10W30 in the last FY. We also plan to launch synthetic oil, Gulf PowerTrac, for the big bikes in the next couple of months.
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BI : How is the Gulf two-wheeler division doing in India?
Gulf Oil has gained further market share in the MCO (two-wheeler) segment, achieving double-digit growth during the year, which is more than two times the market growth, aided by a television campaign to promote consumer proposition of ‘Insta PickUp’. As mentioned earlier, we also launched the Gulf Pride Scooter oil catering to the rising sales of scooters in the market. The category also introduced in the market its new global packs. The following investments were backed by a 360-degree campaign, including a social media campaign, consumer and trade promotions.
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BI : In the past we have seen Gulf bring superstars like Ian King (Drag Racing Champion) to India. Will we see Gulf bring more such motorcycle celebrities to the country?
Yes, we wish to bring these race bikers to India, especially under our new partnership with Milwaukee BMW Racing Team in the near future if their calendar permits.
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BI : Finally, what are your expectations of the Indian two-wheeler market?
For the two-wheeler industry the Y-O-Y growth remained flat last FY. With growth in the scooter segment @ 12.5 per cent and expectation of a good monsoon helping the rural off-takes as compared to last couple of years, the outlook for the auto industry as a whole and two-wheelers in particular is very encouraging.
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