Business Drive

Confident of a run at the leader board:

Frontier Land Rover team to Malaysian Rain Forest Challenge 2007

The winners of the Sri Lankan 4x4 challenge 2005 who created history by becoming the first ever Sri Lankan team to take on the world’s best off-roaders in the Malaysian Rainforest Challenge 2006 (RFC) emerging runners-up in the Diesel category have now set their sights on the overall podium finish at the tenth anniversary edition of the RFC to be held in the province of Terangannu, Malaysia this year.

Driver and Co-Driver duo Indika Sanjaya and Navin Marapana became instant heroes at the RFC when they proved their might to withstand the treacherous 36-hour-climb ‘Stairway to Heaven’ overcoming all obstacles.

Frontier Automotive (Pvt) Ltd., are proud to sponsor Indika Sanjaya and Navin Marapana in this year’s gruelling Rain Forest Challenge.

Armed with experience and better knowledge of terrain vehicle optimization required for this challenge the duo are confident of a run at the leader board when the RFC returns to the province where it all started a decade ago.

This international acclaimed event held deep in the “Amazon” jungle of Asia, the Malaysian rain forests is one of the most arduous tests for both man and machine. The event will take place during the North East Monsoonal rains over a course of 10 days and nights, in a specially prepared route spanning nearly 800 km.

As the first ever Sri Lankan entry and competing in Land Rover, their participation caused not only a local media frenzy but even hit the cover pages of some international magazines ensuring their sponsors valuable media exposure. The Malaysian Rain Forest Challenge 2007 will be held from November 26 to December 5

Participants will arrive from Europe, Africa, Asia and North/South America

The year 2007 will be the 10th edition of the Rain forest challenge, an international event awarded the “Top Ten Most Spectacular Sports Tourism Event” status by the Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Youth and Sports of Malaysia and the “Most countries Participation in a 4x4 Event” by the Malaysia Book of records.

Indika Sanjaya, the owner of LR Motors, a motor engineering workshop specializing in Land Rovers, knows every single nut and bolt that goes into all models of Land Rovers manufactured in the last four decades.

He currently repairs, modifies and restores the majority of Land Rovers in use in Sri Lanka and has particular expertise in rebuilding Land Rover Defenders.

His driving and mechanical skills are invaluable asset for this event. His ground-reading skills coupled with uncanny vehicle handling ability has earned him a reputation as the best 4x4 driver in Sri Lanka.

Navin, a Barrister-at-Law, off-roading is a passion that finds him in some remote corner of a Sri Lankan jungle given a holiday opportunity.

As an experienced off-roader, his combined driving ability and recovery skills will go a long way in strategizing the team’s passage through the competitive special stages in the FRC.

His quick thinking, ground-reading ability and mental toughness gained both from experiences in the driving seat and from keenly fought legal battles make him the ideals Co-driver.

DSL hosts largest dealer confab in Bangkok

Douglas & Sons Limited (DSL) the sole agents for leading Japanese auto parts in Sri Lanka, recently announced that the company’s Auto Spare Parts division will reward its high performing dealers with a three day holiday in Bangkok, Thailand. The trip will conclude with the spectacular ‘DSL Awards Night 2007’ which will be held on the 6th of December.

The event will see a record breaking 350 DSL Dealers recognized for their contribution during the year - the largest number of dealers ever to be rewarded in the history of the Auto Spare Parts division.

The three day tour planned for the dealers and their families will see them enjoying an all expense paid stay in a 5 star hotel in Bangkok, a range of sight seeing tours, entertainment and shopping experiences, culminating in dinner aboard a cruise ship prior to their return to Colombo.

Marketing Manager - Auto Spare Parts, DSL, Anura Fernando said, “We are innovative and the first in everything we do. Our Company tagline talks about our commitment to leading the way - that is something we are always focused on.

We are very proud of the performance of our dealers - they have done a phenomenal job and we are pleased to be able to treat them to this holiday overseas - they have certainly earned it”.

The company first hosted their dealers to an overseas holiday to Bangkok in 2004, setting a record at the time for the largest convention held overseas by a Sri Lankan company.

DSL has been the market leader for auto spare parts in Sri Lanka for almost a decade. The Auto Spare Parts Division is the company’s most senior department, and, since its establishment at the company’s inception, has achieved market leadership in the industry through their premium product range.

DSL, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in December 2006, has grown from a small start up firm with just four employees to the market leader in imported tires and automotive batteries, in addition to being the leading importer of automotive spare parts, employing 225 and a 1,500 strong dealer network.

The company is also a leader in the manufacture and supply of soft toys for the international market, with retail chains such as Marks and Spencer, Mothercare, Walmart, Gap and Next among its customers.

Best selling diesel vehicle surpasses 5,000 units

Diesel & Motor Engineering PLC, (DIMO), sole distributor for TATA vehicles in Sri Lanka has passed the 5,000 sales figure (Nov-2007) for its DIMO Batta diesel mini-truck manufactured by TATA Motors.

This mini-truck was launched in May 2005 by TATA Motors India and has revolutionized the entire Indian commercial vehicle industry with robust sales figures. It is even giving competition to prevalent three-wheeled goods carriers from other Indian automakers.

This vehicle has a very interesting history both in India and in Sri Lanka. Marketed as TATA Ace in India, it was the very first diesel mini-truck to be manufactured and introduced to India.

Recognizing a gap in the market for small commercial vehicles, TATA Motors worked towards an innovative solution. In an era where there is a need to transport goods speedily, conveniently and in a cost effective manner, while providing comfort, style and easy maintenance, TATA Motors developed India’s first mini-truck.

Then DIMO took on the challenge to re-brand the vehicle and introduce it as the first-ever diesel mini-truck to the Sri Lankan market.

And it became one of the most successful stories of re-branding in the automobile history of Sri Lanka. The accomplishment is such that, people in Sri Lanka now colloquially refer to all mini-trucks as “Batta”.

DIMO Batta is the very definition of a unique product. It is a mini-truck, it is available brand new, and is diesel powered. With an impressive deck size of 7 feet by 5 feet, it has a remarkable carrying capacity of 750kg. But the single most amazing feature of all is its unparallel fuel efficiency of 20km per litre, while adhering to Bharat-Stage-2 emission standards.

The reason for such amazing fuel economy is the Batta’s compact engine (700cc) and the vehicle weighing a mere 805kg.