MICRO CARS NEW PLANT IN HAMBANTOTA

 

            

The Sri Lankan car manufacturer Micro in partnership with China’s Sino Motor Industries, is building its third car plant with the aim of exporting vehicles manufactured by the joint venture which is being built at the Mirrijawila Investment Zone in Hambantota. The foundation stone for the car plant was laid by MP Namal Rajapaksa and Sino Motors Deputy CEO LiuWei. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

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CEAT launches radial tyres for SUV'S and high end cars

Sri Lanka’s leading radial tyre brand CEAT has conquered another frontier with the launch of radial tyres for sports utility vehicles (SUVs) and high-end passenger cars, entering one of the most discerning product segments in the category. The all-new ‘Czar’ radial tyres have been specifically manufactured to meet the increasing needs of the SUV and 4×4 vehicle markets, the company said. They will initially be available in two popular sizes – 235/75 R 15 and 235/70 R 16 – that fit most SUVs and off-road vehicles on Sri Lanka’s roads. The new radial for passenger cars launched as part of the CEAT Milaze range is in the 195/65 R 15 size for cars such as Toyota Allion, Peugeot 406 and Mazda Axela. The launch of these tyres from the CEAT Kelani radial plant in Sri Lanka was described as a milestone in the seven-year journey to market dominance of CEAT radials, which now account for more than 30% of the radial tyres sold in the domestic market. Top tyre dealers who attended the gala launch were also provided a preview of an all-new hi-octane communications campaign themed ‘Where have you been lately?’ that will represent CEAT’s evolution into a brand that is completely in sync with and supports the lifestyles and aspirations of its customers. Speaking at the launch, CEAT Kelani Holdings Managing Director Raman Rajagopalan noted that CEAT radial tyres have stood the test of time and now satisfy the needs of more than a million users in Sri Lanka. “We have increased our range dramatically and with the launch of radials for high-end passenger cars and SUVs, CEAT is embarking on a new journey,” he said, also announcing that the CEAT Kelani plant’s production capacity is to be doubled within the next eight months. In June this year, CEAT Kelani Holdings launched a range of high-performance, heavy-duty truck and bus radial tyres branded CEAT Altura in five sizes for prime movers, trailers, luxury buses, bowsers, cement carriers and similar heavy load carrying large commercial vehicles, substantially expanding its offering in the radial tyre segment. Under the CEAT Milaze brand, the company now offers five sizes of radial tyres for vans and 12 sizes of radial tyres for passenger cars. CEAT’s passenger car tyre portfolio now includes the sizes 145/70 R12, 145/80 R12, 155/80 R 12, 155/65 R 13, 155/80 R 13, 165/80 R13, 185/70 R13, 165/70 R14, 175/70 R13, 175/70 R 14, 185/70 R14 and 185/65 R 14 catering to makes such as Suzuki Maruti, Omni, Alto, Alto LXI, Alto K10, Estillo, A Star, Mahendra Maximo, Toyota Passo, Nissan Sunny AD Wagon, Nissan FB 13, SB 13 , FB 14, FB 15, N 17 and Pulsar, Toyota Starlet EP 82 and EP 91, Toyota Corolla 110, Toyota AE 90, Toyota Belta, Vitz, Toyota Carina, Mitsubishi Lancer and Tata Indigo.

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WURTH re-launches EFI Engine turning centres

Wurth, the global German giant and pioneers in setting up state of the art engine tuning centres in Sri Lanka, recently re-introduced the Engine Tuning Centre concept for the benefit of vehicle and fleet owners in Sri Lanka. “Wurth Engine Tuning Centres have become the preferred choice for most vehicle owners when it comes to Electronic Fuel Injector (EFI) cleaning systems and engine tuning,” said Wurth Lanka Ltd. Managing Director Rohan Amirthiah. “The bright red signage identifying Wurth EFI Tuning Centres around towns and outstation cities are very convenient for motorists to relate to and make a visit to the engine tuning specialists,” he added. Modern vehicles are fitted with EFI system instead of the carburettor which improves fuel efficiency while helping to reduce pollution levels in the environment. Although complex in design, the basic principles of EFI are relatively simple and usually offer years of trouble-free motoring, provided regular maintenance procedures are observed. Most EFI problems are caused due to contaminants or varnish clogging the injector’s pintle valve. This valve controls both the volume and spray pattern of atomised fuel into the engine. Even the smallest of particles lodged in this valve can restrict fuel flow, and cause erratic running and poor performance. The primary guard against contamination is the fuel filter. Other popular methods are the use of in-tank chemical additives which assist in reducing deposits such as the Wurth Injection System Cleaner – Petrol Additive, Octane booster etc. “We at Wurth along with our service partners always endeavour to provide our esteemed customers with simple solutions using high quality, state of the art technology and accessories to help them to realise their potential,” said Wurth Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. Product Manager Tharindu Rajapakse. If a vehicle shows any sign of fuel system problems such as rough idle, flat spot, high fuel consumption, low pulling power, knocking or pinking, the vehicle should be taken to a professional engine tuning and EFI cleaning centre and have the electronic fuel injectors cleaned with quality products recommended by the experts and OEM manufacturers. To ensure optimum engine performance, Wurth Partner Service Providers recommend and use German quality component cleaners. Wurth Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. is a fully owned subsidiary of Wurth International AG and belongs to Adolf Wurth GmbH, Germany, the parent company of the Wurth Group. - See more at: http://automotivelanka.com/news/wurth-re-launches-efi-engine-tuning-centres/#sthash.lLOMtgs2.dpuf

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MICRO Cars establish Sri Lanka’s first automated motor vehicle production line

Sri Lanka's first automated motor vehicle production line of Micro Cars was opened at the Polgahawela Industrial Zone by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Friday April 18,2014 . Chairman Dr. Lawrence Perera said that the facility can assemble up to 2,800 vehicles monthly. Dr. Perera said new technology should be introduced to the villages if the country was to be developed. He added that the company is progressing bringing the Sri Lankan identity to the world. 

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Environmentally- friendly Motoring promotion in 2014

Srilanka will promote Environmentally –friendly motoring this year further streamlining vehicle emission test to keep the air that people breathe clean and fresh, Commissioner General of motor Traffic S.H. Harischandra told in a media brief.sringent regulations will be introduced to take actions against owners of obsolete vehicles which cause air pollution as vehicle emission testing has been made mandatory for all the vehicles, except for agricultural and armed force vehicles, the Commissioner said.

Srilanka’s vehicle emission testing programme has been been strengthened with the setgin up of a 40 million rupee mobile ambient air quality monitoring unit. The unit has the capability of monitoring air pollutant gases including Carbon Monoxide (co), Carbon Dioxide (co2) and other hydrocarbons (hc).

 

 

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Indian cars fail the crash test

Five of the most popular small cars have failed crash tests conducted by a UK based car safety watchdog, accordingly to a report on BBC online.

The test by global NCAP showed that if involved in a crash, serious injuries could result. Among the cars tested were India’s talismanic Tata Nano, the world’s cheapest car, as well as models made in India by ford, Volkswagen and Hyundai.

The cars were apparently striped of ssfety features to make them cheaper for Indian buyers, correspondents say according to the report. The five models accounted for 20 percent of all sales of the country last year. Estimates predict that 80% of the cars sold in India are in prices between 8,000$.

“It is worrying to see the levels of safety that are 20 years behind the five star standards now common in Europe and North America,” said by the head of NCAP Global, Max mosley, the former chief of international motorsport. Car manufacturers who have spoken out since the safety tests have insisted that the safely is of paramount importance and that they will be rewieving the NCAP’s test outcome.

Poor structural integrity and the absence of airbags are putting the lives if the Indians at the risk. The customers have the right to know how safe their vehicles are and to expect the same level of safety as standard as customer in the other part of the world.

As a repercussion the Volkswagen have withdrawn its Polo model without airbags. Volkswagen also said the air bags, as well as anti lock brakes, would become a standard of their product from February 2014.

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Toyota Lanka opens new body repair and paint centre

Toyota Lanka opened its newest state of the art Body Repair and Paint Centre recently in Wattala. Located in close proximity to its corporate headquarters (Toyota Plaza), the Toyota Lanka Body and Paint Centre (BPC) becomes the first automobile integrator to revolutionise body repair and paint service standards in Sri Lanka.
This new facility is also the home for world’s prestigious and renowned Italian tire brand Pirelli in Sri Lanka and is equipped with high tech equipment to cater to the tire requirements of all kinds of vehicles including most premier automotive brands.
Toyota Lanka Managing Director Yoshiaki Kato said: “It is our duty as the official distributor of Toyota, to provide our valued customers with the best facilities and expertise to repair and restore their vehicles back to their original conditions. The establishment is another symbol of our efforts of further enhancing after sales services to customer service.”
He further emphasised that this BP centre is mainly targeting heavy and medium accident repairs and small repairs like bumper repairs and touch ups can be accommodated at service facilities at the Wattala head office, Ratmalana and Maharagama.

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Micro Cars - Who Took Us to the World

In January 1999, the MICRO car project was initiated with the concept of “Providing a Car for everyone” which is affordable, economical, safe and environmentally friendly means of transport for the masses, with this vision in mind , I undertook to manufacture  the “National Car” for the country, under the trade name          

Chairman

n   I am an auto passionate and an automobile Engineer by profession. A certificated Automobile Engineer and a fellow member of “Institute of Motor Industry, UK (CAE ,FIMI) , who counts over 37 years of experience to my credit in the automobile industry both locally and in overseas in organizations such as Volkswagen, Peugeot, BMW, Aston Martin, Alfa Romeo and Chrysler.

n  My four year apprenticeship at the Ceylon German Technical Training Institute in automobile engineering gave me an in-depth insight into automobile engineering and the formal training  I received in Germany and France made me realize that producing an automobile was within my reach.

n  With my strong automobile  background, I decided to  pioneer the  project of  manufacturing the first and only car in Sri  Lanka in 1999, Since then “MICRO”  has reached greater heights. Today “Micro” is an known automobile brand in Sri Lanka as well as  overseas.    

n  As a Local company we ensure that all vehicles which are produced / assembled locally  include  a 30% to 40% Local Value Addition

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1st car designed, prototype and manufactured in srilanka, 1st to Obtain a patent for a Motor Car

In January 1999, the MICRO car project was initiated and focused on providing a National car which was safe, economical, environmentally friendly and an affordable means of transport for the masses.

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Introduction to Micro Cars

In January 1999, the Micro car project was initiated and focused on providing a National car which was safe, economical and environmentally friendly and an affordable means of transport for the masses.

As Sri Lanka’s first ever car, the “Micro” was designed, developed and prototyped to be manufactured locally with at least 60% local content. The prototype was prepared in 1999 along with the chassis and made its debut in December. The body was modeled in styling clay and then transferred to composite for final analysis in June 2000.

Micro has launched the MC 9, the successor to the first indigenously developed car, the Micro Privilege. Micro has significantly expanded its product line and signed Technology Transfer Agreements with many foreign Automobile Manufacturers. Micro Cars Ltd is a company very well received by all national and private institutions.

SSangyong has selected Micro Cars as their technical partner and exclusive franchise holder in Sri Lanka. The operation currently assembles Rexton, Kyron, Actyon, Actyon Sports models, with further models planned in the future. Plans are in motion to export these SUV’s t the neighboring countries with a 30% + local value addition. Micro clocked another first by assembling a DuoDeck bus for the first time in South Asia with the assistance of a Technology Transfer – Joint Venture with Hong Kong Based bus manufacturing company, King Long. The assembly will be done at the Polgahawela facility, later will be shifted to a new production plant in the Southern Port City of Hambanthota.

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