Feb 22 , 2017
Doha, Qatar, 22 February 2017: Keeping your car in peak condition at an affordable cost just got a lot easier thanks to Qatar’s new First Stop tyre and auto service centre. First Stop is one of the most successful names in Europe’s highly competitive retail tyre and auto service sector, operating in 25 countries. Now it is expanding into the Middle East. The very first First Stop centre in Qatar has been opened by Aamal Trading and Distribution on Salwa Road, Doha in cooperation with Bridgestone MEA, replacing the former Bridgestone centre in that location. The new showroom was inaugurated by Sheikh Khaled Bin Faisal Al Thani on behalf of Aamal Company Q.P.S.C Managing Director Sheikh Mohammed Bin Faisal Al Thani. Representatives from Aamal Trading and Distribution, as well as senior officials from Bridgestone Middle East and Africa including Regional Managing Director, Mete Ekin attended the inauguration ceremony which heralds a new era in convenience and value for Qatar motorists.
The advantage of First Stop is its ability to provide of a ‘one-stop-shop’ model which allows car owners to meet the majority of their everyday motoring needs in a single location. From tyre sales and routine servicing to battery supply and fitting, to wheel alignment and brake pads, First Stop provides a range of services to keep motorists on the move at affordable prices, using a menu pricing system that ensures clarity and transparency before any work is undertaken.
Founded in 1994, First Stop has grown rapidly. With a network of around 2,000 dealers specialising in Bridgestone products, it sells more than 10 million tyres annually and has built a strong reputation on the pillars of Convenience, Confidence, Comfort and Care. The First Stop retail brand made its debut in the Middle East in 2013 and by the end of this year will have increased its network to 34 locations across the region. This expansion will continue with plans for 100 centres to be operational in the near future.
Aamal Trading and Distribution has been the exclusive distributor of Bridgestone tyres in Qatar since 1971 and this new joint venture introducing the First Stop brand to Qatari motorists represents an important milestone for the business.
Syed Rashid Hassan, General Manager of Aamal Trading and Distribution, said: “It is great news for motorists here that we are bringing this respected and renowned brand to Doha. I know that the refurbishment and rebranding of what was the Bridgestone Doha showroom under the First Stop banner will meet with the approval of our customers, especially when they see that it’s a modern, one-stop-shop catering for all their needs. The collaboration between First Stop and Aamal Trading and Distribution is testimony to the enduring partnership we have built with Bridgestone MEA over the years. First Stop will add both value and choice to the local market, consolidating our position as market leaders”.
Emre Palali, General Manager of Bridgestone’s Retail Division, said: “These are exciting times as we open our first showroom in Qatar. Our first in the MEA region in Jebel Ali Free Zone in Dubai, demonstrated the economic potential of the region and the varied business opportunities which exist here. In launching our new First Stop showroom in Qatar we introduce the concept of a one-stop-shop for all kinds of tyre and routine maintenance services, and we believe our collaboration with Aamal Trading & Distribution will prove a success for both parties”.
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Aamal Trading and Distribution:
Aamal Trading and Distribution is one of the leading trading and distribution companies in Qatar with a diverse range of activities including automotive, refrigeration and home appliances. Aamal Trading and Distribution has been the exclusive distributor in Qatar for Bridgestone tyres since 1971.
Aamal Company Q.P.S.C.:
Aamal is one of the largest diversified companies quoted on the Qatar Stock Exchange. It is strongly diversified, with 25 business units in the key industrial, retail, property, managed services and medical equipment and pharmaceutical sectors.
About Bridgestone Middle East & Africa FZE:
Bridgestone Middle East & Africa FZE (BSMEA) is the headquarters for Bridgestone in the Middle East and Africa region. It was set up with the objectives of speeding up decision-making and action and of optimising regional strategy by identifying market trends close to the region’s customer and market. Bridgestone Middle East & Africa FZE believes in earning the trust and confidence of customers by conducting events to promote and encourage environmental awareness as well as road safety. www.bridgestone-mea.com
For media enquiries, please contact:
Aamal Company Q.P.S.C.: +974 44350666
Arwa Goussous – Corporate Communications Manager
(+97455139539 / arwa.goussous@aamal.com.qa)
Laura Ackel – Marketing and Communications Officer
(+97466716576 / laura.ackel@aamal.com.qa)
