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| Sunday, 24 October 2004 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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'Hercules hits Sri Lanka A brand of motorcycles sourced from one of the most advanced manufacturing plants in Asia, entered the local market last week, seeking to be a major player in a sector that grew 66 per cent last year. 'Hercules', the new range of motorcycles are imported from this plant which manufactures 'Yamaha', 'Hyundai', 'Sachs', 'Daytona' and 'Branson ' motorcycles for markets such as USA, Germany, Korea and for worldwide export. The new motorcycles will be imported and marketed by the Hercules Motor Company (Pvt) Ltd., a new company under incorporation, as a subsidiary of Avon Lanka Ltd., the company which successfully reorganised and restructured the former state owned tyre Corporation to an international standard to manufacture world class tyres under the brand name CEAT. The company will initially market 10 models of Hercules motorcycles in Sri Lanka with engine capacities ranging from 50 cc to 150 cc. Its flagship model will be the Hercules Cruiser 125 with an engine capacity of 125CC, a five speed transmission and alloy wheels. The Managing Director of Hercules Motor Company Rohan Fernando said that over 80,000 motorcycles between 50cc to 125cc were imported in 2003 and is expected to grow by over 20,000 each year over the next two years as motorcycles are gaining ground as a mode of conveyance. Outlining some of the plans of the Hercules Motor Company, Fernando said that the company would strive to be among the top three motorcycle importers in the country. The plant at which Hercules motorcycles are manufactured has an output of 500,000 sets of engines and motorcycles per annum. The company employs over 1,000 employees including more than 300 professional technicians specialising in motorcycle manufacturing. The company has received the Department Of Transportation (DOT) Certification of USA, E-MARK for Europe and ISO 9002 for management systems and QS 9000 International Quality Control Systems. Among the many brands of motorcycles manufactured at this plant, the Sachs brand of motorcycles is the second largest motorcycle enterprise in Germany next to BMW. This plant is also the sole manufacturing centre for Hyundai motorcycles of the Hyundai Corporation, Korea. The local promoter of the Hercules Motor Company, Avon Lanka was incorporated in 1994 and has a controlling stake in Kelani Tyres Ltd., which is the largest beneficiary of Sri Lanka's largest tyre manufacturing concern CEAT-Kelani Group of Companies. |
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