Bangladesh Automotive Industry

[nayeem007]

Originally Posted by samaruf

I'm always for a good quality product, be it Japanese, Indian or from whatever country. From KG to 12th grade, my school ride in Kuwait was a Tata bus. In fact 80% of the school buses were Tata. They had a reputation for withstanding the 50+ deg Celsius of the desert and the frequent sandstorms.

The problem with the Maruti vehicles is the low powered engine and combined with the poor condition of our roads made all these taxicabs clunkers within a very short time.

An uncle of mine was in the taxicab business but opted for Korean Daewoo cars. These were the AC cabs but the cars were just as bad as the Marutis and he folded in a short time.

As the article says:

Some operators including Navana Tax Cab and Nippon, however, stood out from the rest, and they are doing well with Japanese cars.
Navana manager Ainul Kabir Chowdury told New Age that his company operates around 400 cars, all Japanese, to run their cab business since 2000.

These companies are driving on the same Dhaka streets, so it seems that the lower quality of the cars are to blame..

[King Nothing]

Im guessing these are both black and yellow.

[samaruf]

The Japanese cars(mostly Corollas) are definitely of a better quality than the 800cc Marutis. Navana being the sales agent for Toyota probably had the resources for keeping good maintenance of the cars.

[King Nothing]

Just remembered, I had noticed some Fiat Black Cabs.

[Manazir]

Originally Posted by King Nothing

Im guessing these are both black and yellow.

nope. Navana and Nippon operates all yellow cabs

Navana operates all Toyotas but Nippon has some Nissan Sunny aswell.

[nayeem007]

Country goes for making of
CNG auto-rickshaw
Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha . Dhaka
Bangladesh Industrial Technical Assistance Centre has undertaken a plan to manufacture three-wheeler CNG-driven auto rickshaws at home.
For the first time, the country is going to produce the motorised CNG-run auto-rickshaw using the local expertise and spare parts aimed at replacing the city’s non-motorised rickshaws, considered as one of the worst reasons for nagging gridlock in the capital.
BITAC, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Industries, prepared a nine-year project proposal involving an initial amount of Tk 26.84 million for producing such an easy-going passenger vehicle. ‘Now the project awaits approval of the Ministry of Industries,’ director general of BITAC Ashish Kumar Paul told the news agency on Monday.
He said the main objective of the project was to phase out non-motorised rickshaws in phases and put in operation an alternative mode of transportation with a rehabilitation option for the rickshaw pullers.
The BITAC chief, however, made it clear that the rickshaw pullers would get training on technical know-how with soft-loans to help them take up an alternative mode of transportation to earn their livelihood.
Referring to the poor condition of a sizeable number of motorised vehicles on the city streets, Paul said most of the vehicles of such nature burn much fuel while stranded in traffic jam, contributing pollution enormously into the air to jeopardise the environment.
He, however, claimed that the existing intolerable gridlock could be reduced to a larger extent besides saving a huge sum of foreign currency when the 3W CNG-driven auto rickshaws would be marketed on commercial basis.
The large-scale manufacture of the 3W CNG-run rickshaws will be done with the use of small and medium workshops located in the city’s Dholaikhal, a hub of the country’s potential light engineering workshops.
Asked why the local light engineering workshops have been chosen for manufacturing the 3W CNG-run auto rickshaws instead of imports, Dr Ihsanul Karim, additional director of BITAC, said some of these workshops had a good setup and expertise also in manufacturing three-wheeler automobile parts.
‘There is no alternative to promoting the local SMEs to further hasten the countrywide industrialization process’ said Dr Karim with the hope that the new venture would contribute a lot in easing the traffic movement in the city.
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology will be given the responsibility to carry out a design task following the ministry’s approval to start the project, he said.
Dr Karim also said that an initial estimation of Tk 2.50 lakh might be charged for each 3W CNG-run auto rickshaw equipped with locally-produced sustainable light and medium industries. ‘Such an auto-rickshaw with sub-standard spare parts is being purchased in some local markets at over Tk 3.50 lakh,’ he said.
Approximately 2,000 3W CNG-driven rickshaws could be produced every year depending on availability of local light and medium industries, said Dr Karim.

http://www.newagebd.com/2009/aug/18/busi.html

[RiSHi]

Maruti is a subsidiary of SUZUKI motor co. of japan . and it has manufacturing same Japanese cars manufactures in other part of world by SUZUKI but under Maruti brand name.

like MARUTI 800 of indian market is actually an older generation of SUZUKI ALTO .http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzuki_Alto. SUZUKI is known for its Quality compact cars all over the world

so if there is any problem with these suzuki cars(under MARUTI brand name) then bangladeshi should asks to SUZUKI that "what are the reasons behind the quality difference between the "suzuki cars(under MARUTI brand name)" in bangladesh compare to suzuki cars in other part of the world instate of blaming INDIA


plz ignore grammatical error if any

[iftikhar63]

Originally Posted by RiSHi

Maruti is a subsidiary of SUZUKI motor co. of japan . and it has manufacturing same Japanese cars manufactures in other part of world by SUZUKI but under Maruti brand name.

like MARUTI 800 of indian market is actually an older generation of SUZUKI ALTO .http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzuki_Alto. SUZUKI is known for its Quality compact cars all over the world

so if there is any problem with these suzuki cars(under MARUTI brand name) then bangladeshi should asks to SUZUKI that "what are the reasons behind the quality difference between the "suzuki cars(under MARUTI brand name)" in bangladesh compare to suzuki cars in other part of the world instate of blaming INDIA


plz ignore grammatical error if any

For some reasons, it is hard to believe Maruti is somehow a product of a Japanese automaker. Once you ride this car it won’t take a while to realize how poor the make is. I remember, before 10 years or so the roads of Dhaka city was flooded with Maruti Taxi. Hundreds of millions of foreign currency was simply wasted and thousands of investors felt simply helpless soon after it was discovered that Maruti is kind of a automobile having no class at all.

[nayeem007]

Maruti is a a cheaper and economic brand made solely for Indian market. Thus the quality of the product is below par.. it may make sense for the lower middle income people in India to buy it, but it's not the right car for taxi services in Bangladesh.

[RiSHi]

Maruti is a a cheaper and economic brand made solely for Indian market.

No .. Maruti's new models like Maruti A-star is exported by suzuki from india to europe as Suzuki Alto (7th generation) and Nissan Pixo and MARUTI RITZ is solds as Suzuki Splash in europe.

but yes suzuki has a range of cheaper and economical cars which are not only sells in india but in other country like in pakistan for example same model of maruti 800 is sold as suzuki mehran in pakistan .

in india suzuki use Maruti brand name becouse in 80's (when india is not a open economy ) Govt of india and Suzuki had made a joint venture named Maruti udyog limited now known as Maruti Suzuki India Limited.
and absense of any major compititor during 80's it become a Major Brand in automobile market so know when Suzuki Motor Corporation gained the controlling stake it still uses MARUTI brand name becouse of brand image ..So Maruti is not a seprate brand for cheap cars or econamical cars ... suzuki sells all segments of cars under this brand name in india or other south asian country ..

plz ignore grammatical error if any

[samaruf]

Originally Posted by RiSHi

No .. Maruti's new models like Maruti A-star is exported by suzuki from india to europe as Suzuki Alto (7th generation) and Nissan Pixo and MARUTI RITZ is solds as Suzuki Splash in europe.

but yes suzuki has a range of cheaper and economical cars which are not only sells in india but in other country like in pakistan for example same model of maruti 800 is sold as suzuki mehran in pakistan .

in india suzuki use Maruti brand name becouse in 80's (when india is not a open economy ) Govt of india and Suzuki had made a joint venture named Maruti udyog limited now known as Maruti Suzuki India Limited.
and absense of any major compititor during 80's it become a Major Brand in automobile market so know when Suzuki Motor Corporation gained the controlling stake it still uses MARUTI brand name becouse of brand image ..So Maruti is not a seprate brand for cheap cars or econamical cars ... suzuki sells all segments of cars under this brand name in india or other south asian country ..

plz ignore grammatical error if any

Rishi, we understand what you are saying. Maruti is a brand name used by Suzuki in India and it is a popular one too. The problem it seems is the Maruti 800 cc was a very economical car not unlike the Nano made for the middle class people. It is just not good as a taxicab because unlike a family car, a taxicab is on the road almost 15-16 hrs/day and there is lot more wear and tear. For a taxicab, you need a more powerful engine and a stronger body. In the US, taxicabs are mostly former police cars with V8 engines and heavy body. They can take a lot of beating and still run for several years.

[RiSHi]

ya.. is bangladesh allows import of preowned cars ... it could be a solution for those taxi operators who want cars with low price...

[amar11372]

The problem is that the BD Govt didn't have any policy nor certain requirements about the taxis. And people imported Maruti 800 by the lots and tried to use them as taxis. This car isn't anywhere robust as a regular taxi from other nation.

[Manazir]

Deal signed for $ 11.26m motor vehicle industry

FE Report

Britain-Bangladesh joint venture company, 3G Engineering Limited, is going to establish an old motor vehicles re-manufacturing industry in Mongla Export Processing Zone, says a press release.

This joint venture company will invest $ 11.266 million in setting up their unit and will produce reconditioned motor vehicles.

The company will also create employment opportunity for 206 Bangladeshi and 10 foreign nationals.

An agreement to this effect was signed between the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) and 3G Engineering Limited at BEPZA Complex in the city Monday.

BEPZA Member (investment promotion) Prasanta Bhushan Barua and 3G Engineering Chairman Abdul Jahan signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations.

BEPZA Executive Chairman Jamil Ahmed Khan and other officials from both the organisations were present on the occasion.

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.co.../07/63292.html

[Manazir]

Dilip for producing car domestically within 2012

Industries Minister Dilip Barua yesterday said the government is working with a target of manufacturing cars at home within 2012, using own technology.

“The government will set up a separate ‘automobile industrial park’ for capacity building of the automobile workshops, modernization and meeting the demand of trained technicians in this sector” he said.

Dilip Barua was talking to the leaders of Bangladesh Automobile Workshop Owners Association who called on him at his office, an official handout said.

Association President M Belayet Hossain and Secretary General Engineer Jahangir Alam, among others, were present.

The minister said the government would provide necessary support to the local automobile workshops for the sake of industrialization and self-reliant economy.

Automobile workers are playing an important role in creating employment and earning remittances. Skilled manpower in this sector will accelerate the process of industrialization in the country, the minister said.

The association leaders said expansion of automobile industry would help build a ‘Digital Bangladesh.’

“Car production is possible domestically, if infrastructural facilities and government patronization are given to local automobile industries”, the leaders said.

http://www.theindependent-bd.com/details.php?nid=122968

[Manazir]

Pragati Industries plans to assemble Pajero Sports

The state-owned Pragati Industries Limited is planning to assemble Pajero Sports, a new model sports utility vehicle (SUV) of the Mitsubishi, shortly, officials said Tuesday.

Recently, a technical and commercial team from Mitsubishi visited the Pragati plant in Chittagong and met its high officials in Dhaka.

“The visiting team has been pleased seeing our facility and we expect to assemble this shortly,” said Zahiruddin Chowdhury, managing director of the Pragati Industries Limited.

Mitsubishi, Japanese automaker, introduced the SUV a few years back and is now marketing it in different parts of the world.

The new model SUV is a seven-seater with 2500 cc engine capacity. It is also equipped with other modern facilities.

Quoting Asia commercial chief of Mitsubishi Kazuhaita Ogata, Mr Zahir said the team is highly pleased with the Pragati infrastructure.

Currently, Pragati assembles Pajero G-31, a nine-seater with 2350 cc engine capacity.

It assembled 446 Pajero G-31s in the last fiscal and it might assemble 500 vehicles in the current fiscal year, according to sources.

The sources said the Mitsubishi will provide some technical support from its plant located in Thailand.

The Pragati chief said: “We’ve asked the visiting team to introduce octane system converting the diesel system to have a good market in the country.”

Mr Zahir said they are yet to complete negotiation on the prices of the parts of the new model saying “We will finish it in the next meeting later this month or in the first week of the September when another team will visit Bangladesh.”

The prices of such SUVs will come down if those are assembled locally, Pragati officials said.

The government has taken this move to revamp the state-owned automobile company, which had for many years been struggling to survive.

Mitsubishi, the Japanese automobile company, has an agreement to assemble Pajero with state-owned Pragati since 1998.

Pragati, formerly known as Gandhara, had launched its operation for assembling motorised vehicles by importing CKD (completely knocked down) parts in 1966.

It first started assembling Vauxhall cars of General Motors but after the independence of Bangladesh the work stopped.

During the 1980s, it assembled Maruti cars in a limited scale.

“We cannot be cost-effective if we produce a limited number of cars,” Zahir added.

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.co.../14/76075.html

[amar11372]

How about I change the title of this thread to Bangladesh Automotive Industry?

[alladin212]

Originally Posted by amar11372

How about I change the title of this thread to Bangladesh Automotive Industry?

like your idea....bangladesh automobile indstry sounds good....then you can add the news about motorcycle made in bangladesh by walton http://www.waltonbd.com/motor_cycle.php

[Manazir]

Originally Posted by amar11372

How about I change the title of this thread to Bangladesh Automotive Industry?

tht would be great

[TIslam]

Originally Posted by amar11372

How about I change the title of this thread to Bangladesh Automotive Industry?

Wouldn't that be an oxymoron?