The Johannesburg International Motorshow
The Gulf Oil International Group is one of the largest independently owned downstream lubricant companies with blending plants in Argentina, China, India, The Philippines, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Via a network of Official Distributors and wholly owned subsidiaries the Gulf brand is marketed in Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe and North and South America.
The most visible presence the brand has is through its ever-growing number of Gulf branded petrol stations.
Gulf Oil is now present in South Africa under licence to Oil Direct (PTY) Ltd, which is owned by Franck Naidoo and Stephen Gericke.
“Given the recent changes in the South African petro-chemicals industry, the entry of Gulf Oil into South Africa, operating on new business model, empowers small businessmen and women, to whom opportunities within the oil industry would be un-attainable.
Focusing primarily on the Commercial Road Transport and Earth-moving sector, over the next two to five years, the company will introduce the Gulf Brand’s full range of products and services into the other lubricants business sectors as the right partners and distributors are on-boarded.
We therefore invite interested investment groups, from across the full South African spectrum associated with the automotive and mining sectors to explore opportunities with Gulf.” says Franck Naidoo, CE, Oil Direct (PTY) Ltd.
Today Gulf has core values of: care, courage, endurance, inspiration and youth, which form the cornerstone of its communications and business practices across the world. The global strap-line ‘Your local global brand’ also represents the structure and ethos of the company, which is focused on providing a global offering that understands and allows for local variations and needs.
However, in South Africa, we will localise the brand, only in terms of broad based economic empowerment, The Gulf Oil Mechanic Training Programme and Care Initiatives supporting orphans, in line with the Hinduja Foundation and Safety Programmes focused on Truck Drivers.
The Gulf brand and the Gulf racing colours go hand in hand with motor racing. Gulf has many famous motor racing victories to its name from all corners of the world.
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In 2008 Gulf first sponsored the Aston Martin Racing team, which that year secured the GT1 Category at the Le Mans 24hours race, 40 years after Gulf’s first outright win.
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Since then, the team has won the 2009 Le Mans Series for both the drivers and the team.
“Given Gulf’s unquestionable heritage with motorsport, we will make Gulf’s global motorsport initiatives more accessible to the South African Motorsport enthusiasts.
To our sport-loving nation, we bring the IPL even closer to South Africa” says Franck.
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Gulf Oil sponsors The Chennai Superkings who won the 2011 IPL
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M S Dhoni has been signed on as the Face of Gulf Oil.
Breaking news: Gulf Oil is now associated with Formula One and starts with the first Indian Grand Prix, this October 2011.
“We are thrilled that our business-agile brand has our
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Association with Aston Martin and Le Mans
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Being sponsors of the Chennai Superkings in the IPL Cricket
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M S Dhoni has the Brand Ambassador
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Association with Formula One Grand Prix
Together with our unquestionable product quality, will allows us to very quickly create brand affinity with our customers.
We even play in the space of franchised workshops business, which used to be CAPEX intensive. When compared for simply quality at a reasonable price, many OEM’s are starting to talk to us and we have won new business.” says Franck.
The Hinduja Group owns Ashok Leyland and Gulf Oil. Ashok Leyland, the Hinduja Group flagship company in India, is a leading manufacturer of commercial vehicles. The two brands, Ashok Leyland and Gulf Oil are new to the South African market, will see joint marketing activities which will complement each other, as they find their places in the South African automotive sector.
As Gulf Oil moves forward with technical development of its lubricant products and grows its market internationally a growing number of new partners seek to link with the brand. The brand has grown from domestic lubricants to international lubricants and now to life style, as it constantly builds its presence.
