Sathosa Motors revs up 50:50 deal with Sheran for Land Rover, Range Rover

Sathosa Motors Plc (SMOT) said yesterday it has taken on the sole rights to sell, distribute and service the Land Rover and Range Rover vehicles in Sri Lanka.

The exclusive distributor for Land Rover in Sri Lanka will be SML Frontier Automotive Ltd., which is a joint venture between Sathosa Motors Plc and Sheran Fernando on a 50:50 basis and will be operational from April.

The investment by Sathosa Motors PLC is in line with the company’s strategic view of creating a pool of world-renowned brands under the umbrella of the Access Engineering Group.

At present Sathosa Motors (SMOT) has the exclusive right to the world-renowned Isuzu commercial vehicles in Sri Lanka and obtaining this dealership is a part of the series of steps taken to realise synergies and revitalise its operations. Access Engineering Plc (AEL) owns 84.31% of Sathosa Motors.

Through the relationship with Land Rover, Sathosa Motors gains entry into the premium segment of the automotive sector, having already established its footprint in the commercial vehicle segment.

Land Rover/Range Rover is one of the most sought after prestigious brands in the world and has been one of the top three European luxury automobile brands in Sri Lanka during the last five years.

In addition to the luxury automotive sector, another market segment that Land Rover dominates is the military where it has been a partner for the past 50 years and has done yeoman service. It remains ‘the vehicle of choice’ within the Sri Lankan military.

The strength of Sathosa Motors behind Land Rover will enable the brand to expand in Sri Lanka. The proposed assembly of the durable Land Rover Defender in Hambantota will make this legendary vehicle available and affordable to a wider spectrum of the market. Sathosa Motors will create a regional outreach for the brand via a branch structure which is in line with its envisaged regional expansion plan.

After sales service is considered the corner stone of strengthening the Land Rover/Range Rover brand in Sri Lanka and the construction of a new state-of-the-art workshop which will be the epicentre for Land Rover after sales service will commence by the fourth quarter of 2013.

The facility will have on-line access to the manufacturer, where any technical issue can be referred instantaneously. The Land Rover after sales service will also be strengthened by ensuring wider spare parts coverage and faster spare parts delivery times.

Land Rover customers will find the change in local distributorship a seamless process as key employees of the previous agent will be part of the new company.

Sathosa Motors looks forward to begin operations of its new joint venture by April 2013 to coincide with the launch of the all new Range Rover in Sri Lanka – a vehicle that takes the brand ‘above and beyond,’ in every sense of the word.