Business Drive
Laugfs enters local lubricant market
Hiran H. Senewiratne
Laugfs become the first ever Sri Lankan company to enter the highly
competitive local lubricant industry with products manufactured with a
local brand name.
W. K. H. Wegapitiya at the launching ceremony. |
“The company is the first ever Sri Lankan brand on the market. Laugfs
engine oils will initially be available in two distinct product lines
and is intended to be Sri Lanka’s number one brand,” Chairman Laugfs
Holdings Limited W. K. H. Wegapitiya said at the launching ceremony.
The Laugfs Lubricants Limited (LLL) a subsidiary of Laugfs Holdings
Limited has now diversified into many business activities including gas,
petroleum, super markets, engineering restaurants and many more.
“With the 15 years operations in the country LLL would be the
fifteenth addition to their portfolio of business. The company’s total
value has now reached Rs six billion to date following an audit done by
a leading audit firm, Price Waterhouse Coopers,” he said.
Laugfs engine oils will initially be available in two distinct
product lines Monogrades (Power P40+ and Power D40+) and Multigrades
(Supreme Petra- Petrol Engine Oils and Supreme DX).
They also have a complete range of lubricants for industrial
customers (hydraulic oil, greases, gear oil, cutting oil, compressor
oil, white oils, transformer oils, circulation oils etc) as well as for
marine customers will be introduced within the next tree months.
“The company will also have a range of specialty products, which
includes break fluid, coolant, power steering fluid and other additives
and enhances, he said.
Laugfs Lubricants limited began marketing licensed motor oil products
on August 14, 2006 under a license issued by the American Petroleum
Institute.
Supplementing the existing “Express Lube” business which was
incorporated in the year 2000 and which consists of five total service
stations-located at Havelock Road, Kohuwela, Battaramulla, Baseline Road
and Kandy.
The stations provide a complete car care solution and offer a full
range of lubricants and high-end car care products.
A lady driver at the Mag City ladies corner. |
Mag City opens Ladies Corner
Mag City opened Ladies Corner at their Colombo workshop targeting
lady drivers last week.
“We have noticed that most of the lady drivers are reluctant to go to
workshops and they face many difficulties when they want to repair or
service their vehicles. We at Mag City came up with an ideal solution,
`Ladies Corner’ to facilitate these lady drivers,” Assistant General
Manager Mag City, Jagath Parakrama said speaking to Daily News Business.
“We have recruited female staff to conduct operations at the Ladies
Corner and lady drivers now can deal with this well trained staff for
their vehicle repairs and other services. For busy ladies who do not
have time to take their vehicles for the service station we have
introduced a pick up service,” he said.
“Under pick up service Mag City will take the vehicle that needs to
be serviced to the workshop and hand over the vehicle to the owner,” he
said.
“Customers at the Ladies Corner now can enjoy different services
offered by the Mag City such as internet cafe, and Mini theaters,” he
said.
Parakrama also said Mag City will also go online by the end of this
month to provide more convenient services for their customers. This will
enable customers to purchase spear parts, tyres, batteries and other
vehicle accessories online and company will deliver the purchased items
to the doorstep of the customer.
GM growth expectations fall to single digit
General Motors, had estimated growth at 17-18% at the start of the
fiscal. It lowered its target to 14% and now is expecting growth in high
single digits.
“We were expecting double digit growth this fiscal as, initially,
sales were good. But high fuel prices and higher inflation has hit the
auto industry badly.
Moreover, interest rates have also risen, and the global recession
has led to a slowdown in growth,” said president and managing director,
General Motors India, Karl Slym. “Particularly when compared with June
2007, the company has shown negative growth, or degrowth, in June 2008
in terms of sales,” he added.
Director and vice-president, corporate affairs for GM India, P
Balagendra said, “The company has expanded its production capacity at
the Halol plant in Gujarat. From this year, the group will manufacture
85,000 units per annum, a roughly 40% increase from it 60,000 units per
annum, it previously produced.
Interestingly, the company plans to absorb all 85,000 units in India
by the end of the year. Of this target, the company had already sold
34,000 units at the end of June 2008.”
Besides this plant, the company is also opening another manufacturing
facility near Pune, with an annual production capacity of 1.4 lakh
units. “The new plant will be in operation at the start of September
2008. Once the plant is operational, the group would be able to
manufacture roughly 2.25 lakh cars per annum,” he said. sify.com
Toyota plans to invest up to $700 million in Brazil
Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corp. is planning to invest up to
$700 million in Brazil to install a new manufacturing unit, Brazilian
Trade and Industry Minister Miguel Jorge said Tuesday.
Toyota will install the new unit in Sorocaba, a city in Sao Paulo
state.
The unit will have a capacity to produce 150,000 light vehicles per
year and will start its operations in 2011. According to Jorge, Toyota’s
investment was unveiled by company regional president Shozo Hasebe in a
meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Global automakers are interested in expanding their presence in
Brazil to take advantage of record domestic demand.
Surging local demand is being fueled by solid economic growth and
economic stability, which has increased household incomes and access to
credit. Domestic auto sales hit a record in the first half of 2008,
totaling 1.41 million units, up 30.0% from the same period the year
before.
(MarketWatch) |