Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC), a world-famous Japanese automaker, is planning to set up a manufacturing unit in Bangladesh with an initial investment of Tk 400 crore to produce ‘Mirage Sedan Car’ to meet the growing local demand for cars.
The company will set up the unit under public-private partnership (PPP) to establish ‘Mirage Sedan Car’ as Bangladesh’s national brand, said a senior official at the MCC on Thursday.
The Japanese company showed the interest during a meeting between Industries Minister Dilip Barua and corporate general manager of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation Masahiko Ueki at Shilpa Bhaban.
Rangs Limited Managing Director Romo R Chowdhury, senior official of the MCC Tatsukazu Kinoshita, Bangladeshi entrepreneur Fayez Ahmed, Rangs Limited Head of Supply Chain Shafi Tanveer and officials of the industries ministry were present.
During the meeting, Masahiko Ueki said if Mirage Sedan cars are produced in Bangladesh, it will have important role in creating employments and value addition apart from building a stronger backward linkage industry.
Ueki said the car price would remain within the purchasing capacity of people as it will not exceed Tk 15 lakh per car.
The official suggested that the government restructure the duty structure, especially slashing duty on the CKD (completely knocked down or cars knocked down). Now the duty rate on the CKD and CBU (completely built unit) is the same.
Barua said the purchasing capacity of people is going up due to government’s coordinated financial policy. “As a result, the use of private cars is increasing gradually. And Bangladesh is a potential market for automobile industry.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Rangs Ltd launched Mitsubishi Motors’ latest compact, fuel-efficient vehicle – Mirage- to cater to the growing middle-class. Mirage, the compact car has premium fuel efficiency and low carbon dioxide emission.
