From left: Upasena Dissanayake Chairman - Industrial Development Board, Chaminda Wanigaratne- Ideal Motors Director-Automotive, Retired General Daya Ratnayake- Secretary to the Ministry of Industries, Araninda de Silva, Deputy Chairman Ideal Group, Wimal Weerawansa, Minister of Industries, Nalin Welgama- Founder/Chairman Ideal Group, Suren Galagoda- Director Ideal Lanka, PrashantKini -Mahindra Ideal Lanka Country Manager/ General Manager, Amanda Seneviratne- COO Mahindra Ideal Lanka

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (M&M), together with Ideal Motors, a fully owned subsidiary of the Ideal Group, recently unveiled the new Bolero City Pik-Up in Sri Lanka in the presence of Industries Minister Wimal Weerawansa. 

Weerawansa took a tour of the Mahindra Ideal Lanka Automotive Assembly Plant and saw the assembly process of the new Bolero City Pik-Up. 

The plant was inaugurated in August 2019 under a joint venture between M&M Ltd. and Ideal Group. M&M is the leader in the small commercial vehicle space and this new addition to its existing pickup portfolio further strengthens the company’s leadership position in Sri Lanka. 

Addressing the occasion, Minister Weerawansa said, ”Vehicle production is not an unachievable feat for Sri Lanka.  We are steadily moving in the direction of becoming a nation that produces its own vehicles. 

The collaboration between Ideal Motors and Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) India will put more local value additions into their vehicle production in Sri Lanka by next year. I believe that we will soon be able to see more ‘Made in Sri Lanka’ vehicles on our roads.  

As a government, we are committed to further facilitating resource supplies encouraging other global vehicle manufacturers to set up their vehicle production plants in the country. 

The Bolero City Pik-up unveiled by Ideal Motors and M&M consists of more than 30 percent locally-sourced components, thereby enabling local vehicle component manufacturers to increase their revenue and expand their businesses. 

Further, the technology transfer from M&M to young Sri Lankan technicians in this project is an added boon to the country creating wider economic benefits to many stakeholders of the local vehicle assembly industry for its sustainable development,”

Addressing the gathering at the factory, Nalin Welgama, Chairman, Ideal Motors said, “Ideal Motors and M&M have been working together for a decade to deliver value to 
our customers. 

We are working with local vendors to maximize local value add on the Bolero City Pik-up and deliver first ever ‘Made in Sri Lanka’ Pickup which is better suited to the market requirement. With our island wide network of Mahindra sales showrooms and authorized service dealerships, we are confident to lead this category.”

New Bolero City Pik-Up is perfectly suited to various applications with its easy manoeuvrability, big cargo box and reliable, high-power engine. It boasts a strong suspension, with the rear suspension strengthened to take different type of load in city driving conditions. 

The cabin ergonomics have been further enhanced with a wider co-driver seat, giving the best driving experience during inter & intra-city business trips. All these make the New Bolero City Pik-Up an ideal pick up for urban goods transportation across the island. With a warranty of 12 months/ 50,000 km and minimal maintenance costs, customers are guaranteed to earn more profit and have complete peace of mind. 

With the gradual opening of the market amid COVID19 pandemic in Sri Lanka, the demand for commercial vehicles is anticipated to see a significant spike in the future. 

Mahindra Ideal Lanka (MILPL) is now boosting its production capacity to meet the market demand for its pickups. This is the 2nd product launch in a row by Mahindra after the highly popular KUV100 was launched in 
July 2020.