India's Tyre Industry
MRF: From Balloons to Tyres
How K.M. Mammen Mappillai started a toy balloon unit in Chennai in 1946 that became MRF, India's largest tyre company, and why its share price is the highest in India.
MRF is India’s largest tyre company.
Origins
K.M. Mammen Mappillai started making toy balloons in a shed in Madras in 1946.
Tread rubber
MRF (Madras Rubber Factory) moved to tread rubber and then tyres in the 1960s, with help from US firm Mansfield.
Brand
The MRF muscleman and cricket sponsorships built the brand.
Share price
MRF’s share has the highest price per share in India, above ₹1 lakh, because it has never split its shares.
Share price vs value
A high price per share doesn’t mean a company is overvalued; valuation depends on total market value and earnings.
Famous cricketers played with MRF stickers on their bats, making the brand familiar.
It depends on earnings and share count.
- MRF began with balloons in 1946.
- It moved to tyres in the 1960s.
- Cricket built its brand.
- Its share price is India's highest because it never split shares.
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