Ghandhara Tyre & Rubber Company Limited (formerly known as The General Tyre and Rubber Company of Pakistan Limited) came into existence in 1963, at Landhi Karachi and commenced its production in July 1964.
The Company was then established by General Tire International Corporation (GTIC) of USA, with a total capacity of only 120,000 tyres per annum.
In 1977, GTIC sold 90% of their shares to the present owner M/s Bibojee Services Ltd. and retained 10% of the ownership. In 1985, the Company completed a major expansion, which took the capacity to 600,000 tyres annually.
In 1987, Continental AG, Germany’s number one tyre manufacturer purchased GTIC and became the 10% owner. It provides Technical Assistance to the company under a program, which includes training of our people, formulations, recipe, and selection of equipment and acquiring of raw materials from approved suppliers. The company under this agreement with Continental is bound to follow all rules and regulations provided by Continental including the given quality standards.
Since the takeover of GTIC by Continental, they own the brand name GENERAL which currently carries the highest top of the mind position in the market and has a very high recall. Now with over five decades of experience in the art of making tyres, the brand name is synonymous with quality and is considered a heritage brand.
The dynamics of the market is changing and the middle class is entering the car market. They are looking for a different dynamic when it comes to purchasing the tyres. The company as a strategic move to get a major share of this new and growing market and has decided to modernize the outlook of the brand name from General Tyre to “GTR Tyre” as a parallel brand to capture the imagination of this new class of enthusiast motorists mainly youth which will find the name classy, easy to use and a certain dynamism about it. A modern name with a modern look.
Being a Public Listed Company, the current main sponsors of the Company are: (i) Bibojee Services (Private) Ltd. and (ii) Pak Kuwait Investment Company (PKIC) (iii) National Investment Trust (NIT) while the remaining shares are held by the general public.
The current capacity of the Company stands at 2.4 million for automotive tyres per annum. While the motorcycle plant capacity is 1.6 million tyres per annum. The company produces tyre sizes and patterns that cover almost 70% of the sizes in demand in Pakistan.
It is the first & largest automotive tyre manufacturer in the country producing steel belted tubeless radial tyres for cars, SUVs and 4×4 vehicles. While bias or cross ply tyres for some light trucks, trucks/buses, tractors, rickshaw, motorcycle and now OTR including excavator tyres.
The Company caters four different markets. These are:
- The Original Equipment Manufacturers (vehicle assemblers)
- The Replacement or the After market
- Government Departments/Institutions
- The Export Market
GTR sells its tyres in replacement market through more than 190 nationwide authorized dealers/distributors most of whom have been working with GTR for more than three generations setting a milestone on customer loyalty and satisfaction.
It is the largest tyre supplier to all OEMs meeting almost 80% of their requirement. To meet the quality standards of OE, tyres are tested in Japan & Europe. It has been exporting tyres to Afghanistan, Yemen, Botswana, Syria, Nepal & Bangladesh. It has also been engaged in manufacturing & exporting tyres (FAST) for Formula III racing car to UK, Italy & Sweden from 1988-1998.
It has Head Office / main warehouse in Karachi while branch offices / warehouses are located in four major cities of Pakistan namely Islamabad, Lahore, Multan and Sukkur. Company gives comprehensive warranty on its manufactured products.