Micro Cars to set up vehicle plant in Mirijjawila

Micro Cars Limited, which designs, manufactures and assembles automobiles, signed an agreement with the Board of Investment to set up a full-fledged vehicle manufacturing and assembling facility at the Export Processing Zone in Mirijjawila, Hambantota.

This venture will cater to the increasing demand for Micro brand vehicles locally and internationally. The project is due to be completed by 2016 and will be the second vehicle manufacturing and assembling facility set up in Sri Lanka by Micro Cars, with the first being at the Polgahawela EPZ.

The new manufacturing facility at Hambantota will comprise automated production and assembly lines, focusing on the production and assembly of a range of vehicles catering to most segments of the automobile trade with an estimated investment of $ 20 million, said Chairman and CEO of Micro Holdings, Dr Lawrence Perera.

The new venture, Micro Cars International Consortium (Private) Limited will operate under the umbrella of Micro Holdings (Pte) Ltd.

"In addition to the manufacturing and assembly lines, the state-of-the-art facility will feature a research and development unit, a test and racing track and a vocational training centre offering a degree program in automobile engineering affiliated to a prestigious international educational institution," a spokesman for the company said.

"The facility is expected to generate over 600 direct employment opportunities. Similarly, many indirect employment opportunities will be generated through OEM parts and component manufacturers who will be supplying locally manufactured parts and providing services to the production and assembling processes," he said.