Sathosa Motors to start marketing Land Rovers in Sri Lanka next month
View(s):By Bandula Sirimanna
Sathosa Motors PLC (SML) has gained entry into the premium segment of the automotive sector through its subsidiary SML Frontier Automotive Ltd, by securing the exclusive distributor status for Land Rover in Sri Lanka, Executive Director of the company Tilak Gunasekera told Business Times on the side lines of SML-ISUZU 50th anniversary celebrations at the BMICH in Colombo recently.
He revealed that the new venture will be launched in April this year in the company’s strategic plan of introducing world renowned vehicle brands to the country under the aegis of the Access Engineering Group which owns 84.31 per cent of Sathosa Motors .
Land Rover/Range Rover is one of the most popular prestigious brands in the world and has been one of the top three European luxury automobile brands in Sri Lanka during the last five years.
Celebrating 50 years
It is ‘the vehicle of choice’ of Sri Lanka army. The company also plans to set up an assembly plant of the durable Land Rover Defender in Hambantota by July this year, he said. A new state-of-the-art workshop will also be set up and it will begin operations during the same period.
SML has gained 38 per cent of the Sri Lankan market share of trucks becoming the market leader in this segment in association with ISUZU Japan. There are 70,000 units of commercial trucks registered during the 50 years of the company’s partnership with ISUZU, Mr Gunasekera disclosed.
SML has been importing ISUZU passenger vehicles such as buses, cars, pickups, vans and commercial trucks. However with the passage of time, ISUZU Japan stopped manufacturing passenger cars and vans.
SML also has an exclusive spare parts dealer network of 70 scattered throughout the country to support individual and fleet customers in the maintenance of their ISUZU vehicles, he added.
Managing Director Sumal Perera noted that the Access group of companies took over the majority share ownership from ITOCHU Corporation of Japan in February 2012 gaining majority control of SML.
Ryo Sakata, Managing Director of Isuzu Motors, said that SML has extended and diversified its product range in order to cater to the growing demand for vehicles in Sri Lanka.
He noted that the Japanese industry is devoted to research and development and committed towards producing vehicles with elegance and efficiency in line with the global demand.
He was quite impressed over the long partnership that persists between SML and ITOCHU Corporation which enable the introduction and expansion of ISUZU automobile in Sri Lanka.
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