The Dubai Taxi Corporation (DTC) has awarded a AED12 million ($3.3m) contract to the UAE’s Al Dobowi Tyres Group, under which the latter will supply Hankook tyres to the fleet.
The two-year contract involves Korean-manufactured tyres compatible with GCC specifications and standards. Al Dobowi will also carry out tyre fitting and balancing, as well as wheel alignment in the case of replacing two or more tyres per vehicle.
“Tyres have a critical role in maintaining the safety of the vehicle, driver and riders, and the DTC is keen to include in the contract a provision for undertaking periodic maintenance of tyres,” said Yousef Al Ali, CEO of Dubai Taxi Corporation. “The DTC pays considerable attention to all safety issues, especially those relating to tyres.”
Under the agreement, Al Dobowi will repair tyre punctures in DTC taxicabs, with agents providing the service on a complimentary basis at their facilities.
“Tyres of the Dubai Taxi cabs will be replaced exclusively by Al Dobowi at DTC’s workshop at Muhaisna 4 as well as external centres of the company,” Al Ali said. Al Dobowi will also purchase used and replaced tyres of various sizes for environmentally safe disposal, he added.
Surender Singh Kandhari, founder and chairman of the Al Dobowi Group, said the company will provide all the equipment needed for changing and balancing tyres at DTC’s workshop, and will supply nitrogen gas free of charge to all new tyres mounted at the centre.
The contract also covers the handling of manufacturing defects and issuing safety certificates twice during the initial period of the contract, Kandhari said.
