MOTOR
DIMO launches Mercedes-Benz three-pointed star Classic Car forum
Recently a group of men of different ages met at the Galle Face Hotel
to share their ideas and knowledge on something which they had in common
and were extremely passionate about. This was the initial forum for the
Mercedes-Benz classic car enthusiasts, which was organised by the
Mercedes-Benz Club of Sri Lanka and sponsored by DIMO.
Mercedes-Benz Classic Cars parked at the Galle Face Hotel |
This initial forum concentrated on owners having models from 170V up
to W123 and W126. The forum was organised to facilitate sharing of
knowledge and experience, and to provide insightful information to
owners of Classics with regards to restoration and maintenance of the
more time-honored models of the Mercedes-Benz marque.
Speaking at the event Sidath Fernando, President of the Mercedes-Benz
Club of Sri Lanka said "the Mercedes Benz Club has brought about this
initiative which we hope will assist classic enthusiasts to preserve
these wonderfully older models of the 3 pointed star and retain the
nostalgia of the good old days for future generations to enjoy.
Eventually, the Club will be looking at developing a website with a
fully searchable technical library and other useful information."
Tharanga Gunawardena, General Manager for Mercedes-Benz Service did
an interesting presentation on the role DIMO can play in restoration and
sourcing of genuine parts as the authorised distributor for
Mercedes-Benz in Sri Lanka. He went on to mention the advantages of
restoring MB classics through DIMO and why expert care and knowhow is
paramount in such restorations. He introduced special full body paint
packages, service packages, star polish and nano sealant packages for
classics from DIMO.
Mercedes-Benz Club and all present at the event appreciated DIMO's
commitment to the Mercedes-Benz marque since all packages offered were
affordably priced. Gunawardena also described the other benefits
available to MB classic car owners such as island wide 24hrs road side
assistance, 50% discount on labour, 20% discount on genuine parts, one
year warranty on parts and workmanship, free vehicle condition report
after each service etc from DIMO. He encouraged the Mercedes-Benz
classics to be maintained by the agents to retain the high re-sale value
for such cars.
To mark this initial gathering, Ranjith Pandithage, Chairman of DIMO
also approved a special discounted package for panel beating and related
repairs for the classic models. "As the authorised distributor for
Mercedes-Benz marque, we feel responsible to keep these timeless
beauties in shape and to keep them fit , that is why we came up with
these great offers to encourage the owners to bring them back to the
original shape".
Several hardcore Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts participated for this
initial forum and made maximum use of the opportunity to clarify
details. Deraniyagala made a special note complimenting the
Mercedes-Benz Club and DIMO for taking this step to bring MB classic
owners together and providing a platform to interact even more.
Mercedes-Benz is the most valuable premium automobile brand in the
world, and the most valuable European brand. The Mercedes-Benz Club of
Sri Lanka is the only recognised association that looks after the
interests of the three-pointed star and is probably the most active
luxury automobile fraternity in Sri Lanka.
India's Maruti car sales hit record monthly high
India's biggest auto maker Maruti Suzuki on Monday said sales in
March rose to a record monthly high, led largely by higher demand for
hatchbacks.
The company, majority-owned by Japan's Suzuki Motor Corp, said sales
were up 3.3 percent year-on-year at 125,952 vehicles, a third straight
monthly gain.
But for the full financial year to March 31, the company's sales fell
nearly 11 percent to 1,133,695 units.
The company lost production of 106,000 vehicles between June and
October due to a crippling labour dispute at one of its plants in the
northern Indian state of Haryana.
Sales in March were strongest for hatchbacks -- the Swift, Estilo and
Ritz -- as well as the larger DZire car and its utility vehicles.
India, which has been one of the world's fastest-growing car markets
in recent years, suffered a slowdown in demand in 2011 as many buyers
decided to defer purchases or cancel them due to costly loans and rising
fuel expenses.
However, demand has picked up as inflationary pressures have started
to ease.
Analysts have forecast car sales in India to continue to improve in
the coming months as the central Reserve Bank of India is expected to
lower interest rates.
The Society of Automobile Manufacturers forecasts sales will grow
11-13 percent in the 2012-13 financial year in contrast to estimated
flat growth last year.
AFP
Cheap natural gas makes inroads as US vehicle fuel
Natural gas, whose price is at record lows thanks to a shale drilling
boom, is gaining traction as an alternative energy in the United States,
with automakers jumping on the bandwagon. The use of natural gas instead
of oil-based gasoline to drive the country's cars and trucks "is
definitely starting to take off," said Mark Hanson, an analyst at
investment research firm Morningstar.
"The economics seem to work," he said, noting it was "just a question
of what pace" the necessary infrastructure will take to develop.
Gas is in focus as a potential engine fuel because "it is
tremendously good fuel," said David Cole, the chairman emeritus of the
Center for Automotive Research.
Unlike gasoline, whose rising prices are causing pain at the pump for
consumers, natural gas is cheap in the United States as supplies bulge
from production in the country's vast shale gas formations.
In addition, natural gas burns while emitting less carbon dioxide
than gasoline.
Thus, it is considered a "green" fuel even though in its raw state,
the methane it emits is more destructive to the Earth's ozone layer than
CO2, and the artificial fracturing of gas shales, known as "fracking,"
has drawn fire from environmentalists.
AFP
Japan domestic auto sales rocket 78.2%
Japanese automobile sales soared in March, data showed Monday, a year
after domestic demand plummeted in the wake of the country's
quake-tsunami disaster.
Sales of new vehicles with engines above 660cc stood at 497,959 in
March, up 78.2 percent from the same month a year earlier, and marking
the seventh consecutive monthly rise, the Japan Automobile Dealers
Association said.
The figures, also boosted by government subsidies for eco-friendly
vehicles, include large vehicles such as lorries and buses as well as
cars.
New vehicle purchases slumped 37.0 percent in March 2011 in the wake
of the natural disasters, but have since staged a recovery with rises of
31.9 percent in February and 40.7 percent in January.
January was the first complete month of sales after Tokyo
re-introduced subsidies for eco-friendly vehicles that can cut thousands
of dollars from their price tags, in a move aimed at boosting the
domestic automobile industry.
Japanese automakers were last year pummeled by the march 11 disasters
and subsequent nuclear crisis as well as record flooding in Thailand,
which disrupted their supply chains.
AFP |