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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

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