Page 104 - ICE BUSINESS TIMES January 2020

motorcycle. We also have truck & bus of used cars have to be discouraged
chassis assembling plant in so that local automobile industry can
Chittagong. Now we are in the We think the duty slab flourish. Only then, cars made in
process of establishing a passenger should be 800 – Bangladesh can become a reality in
car assembling plant in the coming the near future.
future. 1000cc, 1001 – 1300cc,
1301 – 1500cc etc. This A critical concern is a lack of
The size of the market is will make smaller cc skilled and technical
increasing by 4 percent every and environment manpower. How can the
year. Do you think the current friendly cars a ordable public and private sector
What differentiates Uttara growth rate of new vehicle is for the masses bridge this gap through
investment?
Motors Ltd. as an automobile sustainable in the long run?
importer, assembler and Present growth rate is sustainable or Yes, one of the major barriers is the
manufacturer from its not, actually depends on market size lack of skilled and technical
competitors? of any products. You are aware that urban areas are still not sufficient for manpower. Currently, the manpower
a car to run smoothly. Users lose their
Uttara Motors Ltd. is the front runner the brand new passenger car market valuable time on road due to high is in infant stage, so creating a
skilled and specialized manpower is
and carrying the crown of the most is not a big number and I believe the traffic congestion. Also the brand new now mandatory to develop the
leading automobile company in present rate is actually lower than 4%. car industry in our country is growing industry. Privately, local manpower
Bangladesh. Embarking on its presti- Only way the growth can be sustain- very sluggishly. The marketplace is can be skilled with the contiguity of
gious journey in 1972, we have become able is when there is government completely captured by used vehicles. overseas technical experts. Govern-
the most trusted name in Bangladesh policy support in the sector. Struc- Only local infrastructure development ment can initiate a long term
for all automobile needs. We believe in tured duty policy, easy financing and long term automobile policy learning process through vocational
long term relationship, good business options and good service facilities are promoting local assembling of cars education and training centers in
ethics and brand loyalty. We are some of the other key ingredients for can improve overall situation in the partnership with foreign countries
enormously committed to serve the this to sustain. long run. In the short run, it is very and institutes. Currently some are
best quality service through the much important, to educate the taking place with NGOs and local
experienced well-groomed service team, The current market size of customers regarding the cost of entrepreneurs but it’s not sufficient.
As the sole distributor "We will hand over what own equipped workshop and well reconditioned cars and brand ownership of buying a new car as Private investments in this sector
new cars is 25000 units, in
of Suzuki Japan, what you need, as much as you trained engineers all over the country. which 5000 units are brand opposed to used car and how that will only increase when there is
do you think makes need, when necessary," These are the significant strength that new. What do you think is the significantly differs between the two. support from the government in the
Suzuki the success Simultaneous technological differentiates Uttara Motors to others. reason behind the We also think, government may form of long term structured policies
story it has been so advancement and new We have a clear vision to revolutionize inconsistency between the consider several duty slab intended to for doing business in the automobile
far? ideas helped them reach the automobile industry of the country. supply and demand? How can facilitate lower income people as car sector as a whole. Only then can this
We lead the country’s economic growth
SUZUKI is one of the their vision. Some of the by mobilizing the nation through consumers be encouraged to owner. We think the duty slab should gap in skilled manpower be eventu-
be 800 – 1000cc, 1001 – 1300cc, 1301
globally renowned automo- cars which have done well providing all types of transportation invest in a car? – 1500cc etc. This will make smaller ally bridged. This will also lead to
bile companies known for its for the company are Alto, starting from 2 wheelers to passenger In our country, cars are still being cc and environment friendly cars huge employment generation and
fuel efficient automobile WagonR, Swift, Jimny, Ciaz car, all the way to commercial vehicles. considered as a luxury item while the affordable for the masses which will development of light industries in
technology. The company is and Ertiga. We are the sole distributor for SUZUKI rest of the world considers it as an make people’s life easy and help in the country.
one of the largest automo- In Bangladesh, we have automobiles, ISUZU commercial and essential good. Our government also the country’s economic growth.
bile manufacturers in the secured a prestigious brand specialized vehicles, BAJAJ 2 and 3 considers the same and impose higher Is Uttara Motors Ltd doing
entire world. From the value for SUZUKI cars. Now wheelers and SML ISUZU trucks & customs duty. So there are some Can you elaborate on the sort anything to create mass
beginning of the journey almost every car user is buses. Hence, we are the house conflicts between income and buying of policy support the car awareness about traffic
SUZUKI has generated a aware about the presence of offering the complete range of automo- capacities. A structured long term industry could benefit from? rules?
very outstanding decision SUZUKI vehicles in the biles in Bangladesh. duty policy, easy financing options To aware and educate people, Uttara
that sets them apart from country. We have sold more Uttara Motors has already established and good service facilities will Our existing customs duty structure is Motors is offering our customers an
others. When the market than 25,000 units of a 2 wheeler manufacturing plant with encourage the customers to invest in not encouraging for the car industry. easy driving registration policy, so
was fully stocked with heavy SUZUKI here and have a a production capacity of around 2.5 lac a car. The recently introduced SRO for the that customers can easily get their
vehicles, Suzuki introduced good number of corporate automobile industry is a step in the driving license. Concurrently, we are
a small car ‘Suzulight’ and and regular buyers. Today, The current state of the car right direction but the conditions in doing an awareness campaign
the story began. SUZUKI has SUZUKI has introduced a industry is not very the SRO is not favorable for establish- digitally in all our social pages. We
merged its business in number of luxurious and encouraging; what measures ing a car industry. Our Honorable are also in the process of initiating a
several countries that helped stylish models in their need to be taken to improve Prime Minister’s vision is to make mass awareness campaign in
a lot in achieving success lineup and we have also the situation? Bangladesh into an industrialized partnership with BRTA in the ground
more easily. SUZUKI has launched those models and nation. We feel, a proper structured levels. In this joint effort, we are
expanded its business in 23 offer our customer with A country’s development mostly policy needs to be made in order to going to organize seminars and BTL
countries, having distribu- attractive price and ensure depends on its transport facilities and attract foreign direct and local activities to make people aware
tion outlets in 133 countrywide after sales one of the main components is road investment so that the industry as a about traffic rules in all divisions of
countries. SUZUKI’s aim is services for our vehicles. infrastructure. Our road facilities in whole gets benefitted. Also importing the country.

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