Sri Lanka gets first hybrid service centre

By Shezna Shums

Hybrid Motors Lanka Private Ltd., a subsidiary of Hybrid Motors Singapore, will open the very first hybrid service centre in Colombo on Monday (8), marking its entrance into the automobile market.

The opening comes exactly four years since the launch of the company in Singapore, when it launched its first state-of-the-art engineering centre there. This will be the first of the many such engineering centres to be opened islandwide by Hybrid Motors Lanka in the months ahead.

The hybrid service centre was set up with an investment of US$ 500,000 to meet the technical needs of the estimated 2,000 to 3,000 hybrid cars in Sri Lanka, while a further 2,500 are still in the port awaiting clearance.

Although hybrid cars are becoming increasingly popular, there is no warranty issued with the car, nor are there any service centres to meet the mechanical needs of such cars here.

Hybrid Motors Singapore imports hybrid vehicles into Singapore, but with regard to its Sri Lankan operations, it will presently contribute towards the technical and service needs of hybrid vehicles. The company is also considering importing hybrid vehicles to Sri Lanka in the near future.

According to Hybrid Motors Lanka Sales Director Azli Ismail, the labour cost charged by the company will be on par with local car service centres while the cost of spare parts will be as determined by the manufacturers.

Chairman of Hybrid Motors Lanka Eddie Lo sees Sri Lanka’s growth potential and wants to contribute towards the growth of the country. “I am confident Sri Lanka will do well,” he said.

He quipped that he had seen a lot of people driving hybrid cars while in Sri Lanka, there was no service centre for them to go to for a problem and assured that the company planned to expand the number of service centres around the island as more hybrid vehicles enter the market.

Currently the company is planning on working with hybrid car dealers to sell with a warranty to ensure that the car can be serviced and maintained.

Hybrid Motors Lanka Technical Director Robert White added that the services provided at the centre would be of superior standard since the company had garnered experience from the last four years in servicing hybrid vehicles.

An increasing number of people are showing interest in hybrid cars to save on fuel and car manufacturers too are now moving towards producing these green friendly cars.

Hybrid Motors Lanka will promote hybrid technology in this distinctive engineering precinct, providing consistent and finest maintenance facilities to hybrid car owners in Sri Lanka.

Hybrid Motors Singapore is one of the largest players in the automobile industry in Singapore with a paid-up capital of Singapore $ 2 million and is a leading importer and service provider for hybrid, MPV, SUV and luxury cars.

Hybrid Motors’ marketing strategy in Sri Lanka is to become the most preferred brand for maintenance of hybrid, MPV, SUV and luxury cars, joining the development process of Sri Lanka with the public and private sector.

The company’s marketing objectives are manifold. Primarily, it will strive to change the mindset of the potential customers to the green car concept, whilst encouraging the Government and other organisations to go for green vehicles, promoting hybrid technology in Sri Lanka.

In this endeavour the company plans to have three seminars yearly to educate the potential buyers on the benefits and advantages of using Hybrid vehicles.

Franchise businesses are planned for the future to enhance the confidence of customers with satellite workshops to be conducted islandwide.

“In line with the vision of the President and the Government of Sri Lanka, who believe in the good effects of safeguarding the environment we live in, we will also strive to promote the green concept in Sri Lanka,” said Lo.