Micro makes Lanka proud
When most institutes import motor
vehicles and sell them in Sri Lanka, Micro Cars manufactures motor
vehicles in Sri Lanka and sell them in Sri Lanka. This is a different
concept: Micro Cars founder and CEO Dr Lawrence Perera explains more in
this interview.
Q: What made you to move into such a
concept?
A: It is the normal
practice for most companies to import vehicles. For the first time late
Upali Wijewardene made an attempt to manufacture vehicles in Sri Lanka.
But he did not get the support of the then governments in power. If he
got the necessary support then, by now we would have been in the
manufacturing business of motor vehicles, leading even India and China.
A recently manufactured Micro product |
I am a motor engineer by profession. I had a dream to manufacture a
motor vehicle in Sri Lanka. Rather than assemble them here by importing
parts. At this point, the knowledge I had gained locally and abroad in
motor engineering was a great advantage for me to design a motor
vehicle.
I think a motor vehicle is a dream which even a child would treasure.
To design a motor vehicle and manufacture it in Sri Lanka itself is a
dream. For various reasons the price of imported vehicles are higher but
by manufacturing a motor vehicle in Sri Lanka, I had a dream that the
price can be reduced to a great extent. I wanted to make that change.
Q: As you have said, in comparison to
imported vehicles, what are the prevailing prices of Micro motor
vehicles and what type of vehicles do you manufacture in Sri Lanka?
A: As at today we assemble
all types of vehicles required for transport. At the same time we have
commenced manufacturing agricultural vehicles that can be used in paddy
fields. The price of the vehicles are in the range of Rs one million to
Rs twenty million. Through our efforts we have afforded even middle
class families to own a vehicle of their own.
Q: In addition to these vehicles are
there any other type of vehicles which you intend to manufacture in the
near future?
A: Yes. Our next attempt
is to design and manufacture a train. Although trains had been
introduced to Sri Lanka more than 160 years ago, no one had taken a keen
interest to develop this mode of transport. Micro Institute by now has
designed a train that suits the Sri Lankan terrain. Our next aim is to
manufacture the train we had already designed.
Q: Up to now you had established
yourself in Colombo. But now branches had been established in Kandy and
even in Matara. If you can comment on the arrival of Micro Institute in
Matara?
A: A person in the south
has to go all the way to Colombo to purchase a vehicle. To fulfill their
needs I thought that Micro institute should be established in Matara
too. The development that is taking place in the south is an added
attraction. We intend to establish a Micro manufacturing unit in the
proposed Hambanthota industrial zone. The most convenient central place
for the people in the South will be Matara. Hence my decision to
establish a branch in Matara, and a branch in Kandy.
Dr Lawrence Perera |
Q: At the motor vehicle exhibition
recently held in China, Micro was presented with awards. Your customers
would like to know about them?
A: At the motor vehicle
exhibition held in Shanghai China by motor vehicle industry, once in two
years, Micro was presented with two awards. At this award ceremony we
were appreciated for having being selected by two institutes Hafei and
Geely as their agents. It has to be mentioned that when Geely company
purchased the Volvo car company, they automatically obtained the Volvo
car technology too. Accordingly Micro institute too obtained the safety
and precautionary methods adopted by Geely company. As an example we can
mention that the Panda car has gained popularity in Sri Lanka. The
safety precautions of this vehicle includes air bags. ABS EBS brake
system and 7* c/n cap system as installed in European countries. We
intend to export Panda system vehicles very soon and earn considerable
foreign exchange for the country.
Q: What kind of demand do the
customers have for your products?
A: When Micro commenced
business in 1999 I had a fear. Because our people have a habit of
rejecting local products. By now the situation has changed, almost by 60
percent from the situation that prevailed in 1999. By now the people of
Sri Lanka has changed their view and concepts on locally manufactured
products.
As at present we are finding it difficult to fulfill the demands for
our products. We give a two year guarantee on our products, since we are
sure and satisfied about our products. We intend to extend it to three
years. We are constructing a service center at Peliyagoda which was the
capacity to handle 240 vehicles at one and the same time.
Q: How did you meet all the
challenges that you had to face in manufacturing process?
A: It is natural that a
person as a normal human being, as a businessman, as a designer of
vehicles has to face all kinds of challenges. When others import motor
vehicles, I manufactured a motor vehicle in Sri Lanka. It was a
challenge for me. The competition in motor vehicle field still persists.
This competition would push our institute further up. When I start a
project I do not perceive how far I could go. I prefer to move ahead. It
is not my concept to make forecasts about anything. I do not turn back
without making a success of any project I would start.
Q: What would be your final target as
a designer of motor vehicles?
A: I believe that in
transport the self respect of a passenger should be preserved. Even when
transporting animals in a vehicle there is limit as to number of animals
that can be transported. But when travelling in a bus if the number of
passengers are limited to 50, almost 100 passengers would travel in it.
This situation should change and it is not the responsibility of the
government alone. Others too should contribute to bring about these
changes. My final target is to design a proper passenger transport
vehicle - that would be of benefit to Sri Lankans.
************
It is natural that a
person as a normal human being, as a businessman, as a designer of
vehicles has to face all kinds of challenges. When others import motor
vehicles, I manufactured a motor vehicle in Sri Lanka. It was a
challenge for me. The competition in motor vehicle field still persists.
This competition would push our institute further up. When I start a
project I do not perceive how far I could go. I prefer to move ahead. It
is not my concept to make forecasts about anything. I do not turn back
without making a success of any project I would start |