Motor traders to prepare sustainable industry masterplan
The Ceylon Motor Traders Association (CMTA) has emphasised the need of a government policy to take the country’s motor industry to the next level of technological changes.
Newly appointed CMTA Chairman Sheran Fernando told the 98th CMTA Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Colombo recently that bringing these concerns to the notice of the Government and making the association the voice of the automotive industry were the main goals during his tenure in office.
The automotive industry is undergoing a massive change from internal combustion engines to electric, from ownership to tailored mobility solution driven to driver-less or autonomous vehicles.
The CMTA has announced an action plan that will integrate industry stakeholders to help develop such a policy environment.
The Association will use its collaboration with internal manufacturers, international trade associations, business chambers, universities, academics and the Government to present a sustainable industry masterplan.
“Most of the large vehicle manufac- turers such as Volvo, GM, Volkswagen, BMW, Jaguar, Toyota, Nissan, Ford, Fiat, etc have already announced of their changeover to electric for some models,” he said.
“Volvo has announced that all models introduced in 2019 and after would be hybrid or electric. Consumers are also looking to mobility solutions rather than ownership. In Sri Lanka too we have already seen the popularity of technologically driven mobility companies such as Pick Me and Uber becoming more and more used,” he disclosed.
“The CMTA should be the force that is driving this change,” he noted adding that the association has to be the voice of the automotive industry in Sri Lanka because it represents the world’s largest automotive manufacturers.
He stressed the need to influence policy in a manner that ensures long term sustainable growth while focusing on pollution, congestion, regulation, safety.
CMTA should work with the Government to ensure that the necessary regulations are brought in, that benefits the nation and its people, he added.