cars..cars...and cars!!!

[sjinadasa]

They are all starting at 7 million up which is about 70k dollars. That is in Sri Lanka with its exorbitant taxes, so it will be about 100-200% cheaper overseas.
Also I wish Micro would design and build a fully local low cost sedan,

[saraprobe]

Originally Posted by sjinadasa

They are all starting at 7 million up which is about 70k dollars. That is in Sri Lanka with its exorbitant taxes, so it will be about 100-200% cheaper overseas.
Also I wish Micro would design and build a fully local low cost sedan,

But if u have tax free permit it's only $12,000 - $14,000, which is damn cheap

[phil.froelich]

nah man, that is not true, that is the kinda rubbish you find in the newspapers, I went to see for myself, with my family, a VW Passat which is supposed to cost 16,500 USD with a permit, actually cost upto 30,000-40,000, you still pay cess, VAT and some other taxes, even with the permit, I have really seen it with my OWN eyes... After all, you can't allways believe the MEDIA...

[saraprobe]

Originally Posted by phil.froelich

nah man, that is not true, that is the kinda rubbish you find in the newspapers, I went to see for myself, with my family, a VW Passat which is supposed to cost 16,500 USD with a permit, actually cost upto 30,000-40,000, you still pay cess, VAT and some other taxes, even with the permit, I have really seen it with my OWN eyes... After all, you can't allways believe the MEDIA...

Well, that what I saw on Micro cars web site couple of months ago!!!
Any way this is Lankan converted Hummers

[sjinadasa]

Originally Posted by phil.froelich

nah man, that is not true, that is the kinda rubbish you find in the newspapers, I went to see for myself, with my family, a VW Passat which is supposed to cost 16,500 USD with a permit, actually cost upto 30,000-40,000, you still pay cess, VAT and some other taxes, even with the permit, I have really seen it with my OWN eyes... After all, you can't allways believe the MEDIA...

It is made confusing with the presence of different types of permits and our vast array of taxes. Still, it can't be that much even with the taxes if you have a full permit.

That hummer looks really cool.

[phil.froelich]

Hummer looks nice, will they be sold at a lower rate for the Sri Lankan market?

[Gamarala]

Originally Posted by phil.froelich

Hummer looks nice, will they be sold at a lower rate for the Sri Lankan market?

I doubt it. Most of it is made abroad, all we do is the conversion. The government can't really afford reduce taxes on them.

[phil.froelich]

Well, they could if they would stop their idiotic bloating of the Public Sector, privatise or atleast sell minor stakes of these lose making entities, earn money and slash taxes for the people of Sri Lanka... Look at the success stories of SLT and SriLankan Airlines.

[KB335ci]

Originally Posted by soham

true that

Sri Lankans are not wasting on crapy technology as Indians.

So, why buy our cars then?

[lordvader]

Originally Posted by phil.froelich

Well, they could if they would stop their idiotic bloating of the Public Sector, privatise or atleast sell minor stakes of these lose making entities, earn money and slash taxes for the people of Sri Lanka... Look at the success stories of SLT and SriLankan Airlines.

I totally agree with you on this point. Even in the automotive sector a joint venture could be made ie. get an emerging company like Proton to take a minority stake in a new govt company (or even a private company) and start manufacturing vehicles here.

[Gamarala]

Originally Posted by phil.froelich

Well, they could if they would stop their idiotic bloating of the Public Sector, privatise or atleast sell minor stakes of these lose making entities, earn money and slash taxes for the people of Sri Lanka... Look at the success stories of SLT and SriLankan Airlines.

I don't think we should be too quick to blindly follow western suggestions and privatize half our institutions in an attempt to cut spending. Look at all the problems Americans have with their "health insurance" nonsense. There are loads of good things that come from the money we spend on the public sector and there are bunch of "developed" countries that spend as much as we do on the public sector.

Even privatization isn't always what we need. Look at India's railways. From a huge loss making enterprise a decade ago to an operating surplus of $6billion last year. They didn't achieve that by privatizing it, as I'm willing to bet a lot of "experts" may have suggested at the time, but by actually having people with brains run it.

[lordvader]

I wouldnt fully privatise any institution, maybe sell off 30% to a foreign company. However then they should install a CEO with the capacity to run a company (who is from SL) like Lanka Transformers- theyre even building a power plant now. I think Emirates may have made a mistake by not appointing a CEO of SL origin so as to gain more support from the SL public. However companies such as SLPA and Bank of Ceylon which are govt owned are profitable so there are some success stories.

[Gamarala]

Originally Posted by lordvader

I wouldnt fully privatise any institution, maybe sell off 30% to a foreign company. However then they should install a CEO with the capacity to run a company (who is from SL) like Lanka Transformers- theyre even building a power plant now. I think Emirates may have made a mistake by not appointing a CEO of SL origin so as to gain more support from the SL public. However companies such as SLPA and Bank of Ceylon which are govt owned are profitable so there are some success stories.

Yeah, the thing is to get good, capable people running our public institutions. Politics needs to go out the window.

And alongside that, we should really encourage local companies to partner with foreign companies and start various businesses, like building vehicles locally. It really annoys me when I see a local CEO saying how little support they received from the government to get a project off the ground.

[saraprobe]

The ‘Micro’ car-manufacturing company of Sri Lanka has embarked on establishing a production plant in Guyana in the Caribbean with the intention of targeting the Latin American motor car market.

The agreement in this regard was signed recently at the Export Development Board (EDB) under the patronage of Prof. G.L.Peiris, Minister of Export Development and International Trade.

It was signed by Dr. Laurence Perera, Chairman, Sri Lanka Micro Co. Ltd. and Ahamed Ameer, Chief Administrative Officer, Micro Car Caribbean Company on behalf of their respective companies.

Under the Agreement entered into, the Caribbean Company would be authorized to manufacture motor vehicles that fall within the patent license of Micro company while the latter would provide technical and design advice along with the services of Sri Lankan engineers.

It is believed that a large number of Sri Lankan technicians and engineers would be able to find employment in this project in Guyan.

DM

[phil.froelich]

Good, but this just shows our incapabilities and how hard it is to do business in Sri Lanka, especially creating and starting new industries...

[that_guy]

I dig that Aston right there. Great styling, performance and reliable auto parts unlike some sports car that only goes vrooom but can't stay that way for three to five years.

[saraprobe]

For the first time in history Micro Cars Ltd will be assembling double-decker buses in Sri Lanka from next August.

Car plant: Staff at the Micro car plant in Kurunegala

The Chairman Micro Cars and veteran automobile engineer, Dr. Lawrence Perara said that two proto types of the bus would be ready by April. “We hope to launch the first double-decker bus by early August,” he said.

The Company hopes to open a special manufacturing plant in Hambantota for this purpose. “We are hoping to invest Rs, 350 million for this project,” he said. The project would provide over 900 direct and over 2500 indirect employment opportunities.

Two types of buses - luxury coach and double-decker types would be built. “We are hoping to market a double-decker bus for around Rs. 10 million which would be 60 percent less than an imported model,” he said.

Dr. Perera said that engines would be imported either from India or China while the transmission and brake systems would be imported from Germany while the local value addition component would be nearly 40 percent.

“The Board of Investment has already promised to purchase one Micro bus and we are now looking at securing purchase orders from the Sri Lanka Transport Ministry and private transport operators,” he said.

Micro, the first car manufacturer in Sri Lanka also signed a historical transfer of technology Agreement to set up a manufacturing plant in the Caribbean Islands (in British Guyana) targeting Latin American countries. “We hope to assemble the double-decker bus kits targeting the Latin American market,” he said.

Micro Cars Ltd will provide all necessary technical assistance design and engineering skills required for the project and will also send senior engineers from Sri Lanka.

Micro Cars Caribbean plans to sell well over 1000 units during the first year of operation with an annual target of 1500 units during the second and third years. Sri Lanka will earn foreign exchange by supplying components; parts and accessories in addition will be paid a royalty fee for each unit sold in Caribbean.

He said that the Rexton SUV car, which is the latest to be launched by the Micro Group too has a large demand. “We are now manufacturing 150 vehicles per month,” he said.

DN

[Gamarala]

Originally Posted by saraprobe

Two types of buses - luxury coach and double-decker types would be built. “We are hoping to market a double-decker bus for around Rs. 10 million which would be 60 percent less than an imported model,” he said.

“The Board of Investment has already promised to purchase one Micro bus and we are now looking at securing purchase orders from the Sri Lanka Transport Ministry and private transport operators,” he said.

I hope the government gives them all the support they need.

[phil.froelich]

Yep, finally GoSL has a change to do some good, without to much of involvement...

[illusions77]

awesome news! Hats off to Micro cars, this will do the real good for SL economy. Hopefully the transportation industry will replace all their imported vehicles with local ones.