Micro Cars

Micro Cars is an automobile company headquartered in Peliyagoda, Sri Lanka. Established in 1995 by automobile engineer Dr. Lawrence Perera, it became associated with efforts to develop and assemble vehicles locally rather than functioning solely as an importer. The company was created as a fully owned subsidiary of Micro Holdings and received support from Sri Lanka's Board of Investment for its vehicle project. Micro's early work focused on creating a locally developed small car. The company sought to manufacture vehicles with at least 60 percent local content. A prototype was prepared in 1999, and its running chassis made an initial road appearance in December of that year. The body was shaped in styling clay and transferred to composite materials for further analysis in June 2000. The first production vehicle was completed in mid-2001, although the model was not legally registered until 2003 following a prolonged dispute with Sri Lanka's motor-vehicle registration department. The first production model was the Micro Privilege, a small car equipped with a 1.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and a five-speed manual transmission. Micro subsequently introduced the MPV Junior van and the Trend hatchback, the latter associated with design work by Pininfarina and Hafei Motors. These vehicles represented an attempt to broaden the company's range beyond its initial compact car and to combine local assembly or development with foreign engineering and component relationships. Micro Cars later expanded into the assembly and distribution of vehicles based on Chinese products. Its portfolio included Micro-branded versions or locally assembled variants of vehicles associated with Geely, Hafei and Great Wall Motors. Models listed in connection with the company include the Panda and Panda Cross city cars, the MX7 Mark II saloon, the EC7 saloon and the Impreza fastback saloon. The Panda was assembled in Sri Lanka from complete-knock-down kits, while the MX7 Mark II was derived from the Geely MK, also known as the King Kong. The company also developed the Micro Duo Deck, a double-decker bus produced through an arrangement involving Chinese suppliers. Imported Chinese engine and chassis components were assembled in Sri Lanka, and the bus was specified with a low-floor layout, air conditioning, automatic doors and capacity for seated and standing passengers. Micro Cars also exported products to Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Its business therefore combined local automotive development, vehicle assembly, product rebranding and regional export activity. Publicly available reference material documents the company's products and historical projects but does not establish its current production scale, ownership changes, executive team, financial performance or present operating status.

Micro Cars was established in Sri Lanka in 1995 by automobile engineer Dr. Lawrence Perera. It was organized as a wholly owned subsidiary of Micro Holdings and developed within a national context that encouraged local industrial and manufacturing projects. The company's early objective was to create a locally developed automobile rather than depend entirely on imported finished vehicles. Its stated engineering concept targeted at least 60 percent local content. The company's first prototype program progressed during the late 1990s and early 2000s. A prototype was prepared in 1999, with its running chassis making a debut run in December. The body design was developed first in styling clay and later transferred to composite form for analysis in June 2000. The first Micro vehicle was produced in mid-2001. Despite that production milestone, the vehicle was not legally registered until 2003, after a lengthy dispute with Sri Lanka's motor-car registration authorities. The Board of Investment provided state support for the project. Micro Privilege was the company's first production car. It used a 1.0-litre inline-four petrol engine and a five-speed manual gearbox. The company then expanded its range with the MPV Junior van and the Micro Trend hatchback. The Trend was introduced in January 2003 and went on sale in April of that year. It was linked to design and manufacturing relationships involving Italy's Pininfarina and Hafei Motors. A revised New Trend was introduced in 2010, with the first batch reported as being offered for sale by early March 2011. Over time, Micro Cars developed a mixed business model incorporating local assembly, imports and vehicles based on foreign platforms. The company became involved with vehicle brands and products associated with Geely, Hafei and Great Wall Motors of China. The Micro Panda and Panda Cross were assembled in Sri Lanka from complete-knock-down kits. Other listed vehicles included the MX7 Mark II, derived from the Geely MK or King Kong; the EC7; and the Impreza. This period marked a shift from the company's original locally developed compact-car project toward a broader portfolio using international platforms and component supply chains. Micro also entered the bus sector. Following a 2006 arrangement with Chinese suppliers, it developed and manufactured the Micro Duo Deck, a double-decker bus assembled in Sri Lanka with Chinese engine and chassis parts. The design included a low-floor arrangement, anti-lock brakes, full air conditioning and automatic doors. Its stated capacity was 102 seated passengers and 26 standing passengers. The company exported products to Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh, giving its activities a regional dimension beyond the Sri Lankan market. Available reference material describes Micro Cars as a participant in local vehicle development, assembly and export, but does not provide reliable current information about its production operations, management, financial results or whether each historical model remains available.

• 2011

  New Trend sales begin

  [1]Micro Carsen.wikipedia.org

  The first batch of New Trend vehicles is reported as being offered for sale by early March.

• 2010

  New Trend version introduced

  [1]Micro Carsen.wikipedia.org

  A revised version of the Micro Trend is introduced.

• 2006

  Duo Deck bus arrangement

  [1]Micro Carsen.wikipedia.org

  Micro enters an arrangement with Chinese suppliers connected with the development and manufacture of its Duo Deck double-decker bus.

• 2003

  First Micro vehicle is legally registered

  [1]Micro Carsen.wikipedia.org

  Following a lengthy registration dispute, the first Micro vehicle is legally registered in Sri Lanka.

• 2003

  Micro Trend enters the market

  [1]Micro Carsen.wikipedia.org

  The Micro Trend hatchback is introduced in January and sales begin in April.

• 2001

  First Micro vehicle is produced

  [1]Micro Carsen.wikipedia.org

  The company's first vehicle is completed in mid-2001.

• 2000

  Prototype body enters composite analysis

  [1]Micro Carsen.wikipedia.org

  The prototype body, initially modeled in styling clay, is transferred to composite form for analysis in June.

• 1999

  Locally developed prototype program advances

  [1]Micro Carsen.wikipedia.org

  A Micro prototype is prepared, and its running chassis makes an initial debut run in December.

• 1995

  Micro Cars is established

  [1]Micro Carsen.wikipedia.org

  Automobile engineer Dr. Lawrence Perera establishes Micro Cars in Sri Lanka as a subsidiary of Micro Holdings.

A Sri Lankan automotive developer and assembler focused on compact vehicles, local-content manufacturing and regional distribution, while also using partnerships with Chinese vehicle manufacturers and suppliers.

• Compact passenger car

  Micro Privilege

  The Privilege was Micro Cars' first production automobile. It used a 1.0-litre inline-four electronic-fuel-injection petrol engine with a five-speed manual transmission. Listed equipment included air conditioning, electric windows, remote central locking, a radio CD/cassette player, crystal headlamps and 13-inch wheels.

• MPV and van

  Micro MPV Junior

  The MPV Junior was an early Micro commercial and passenger-vehicle project introduced after the company's first car. It broadened the range into the small van and multipurpose-vehicle segment.

• Hatchback · 2003

  Micro Trend

  The Trend was a small city hatchback associated with Pininfarina and Hafei Motors. It was introduced in January 2003, with sales beginning in April. Micro later introduced a revised New Trend version in 2010.

• City car

  Micro Panda

  The Panda was assembled in Sri Lanka from complete-knock-down kits. It was offered with 1.0-litre or 1.3-litre petrol engines and a five-speed manual transmission. The model was based on the Geely LC, a Chinese city car whose Chinese-market version was associated with a five-star C-NCAP safety rating.

• Cross-style city car

  Micro Panda Cross

  The Panda Cross was the 1.3-litre cross-style variant of the Panda. It used a five-speed manual transmission and was listed with an 85-horsepower output and a claimed top speed of 160 km/h.

• Sedan

  Micro MX7 Mark II

  The MX7 Mark II was a rebadged version of the Geely MK, also known as King Kong. It used a 1.5-litre petrol engine, a five-speed manual transmission and a conventional four-door saloon body. Reference material lists an output of 93 horsepower and a claimed top speed of 165 km/h.

• Sedan

  Micro EC7

  The EC7 was a four-door saloon in Micro's larger passenger-car range. It was listed with a 1.8-litre petrol engine producing 139 PS and was associated with the company's use of vehicles from Chinese manufacturing partners.

• Fastback sedan

  Micro Impreza

  The Micro Impreza was described as a fastback saloon. Its listed powertrain was a 2.0-litre petrol engine producing 148 horsepower.

• Double-decker bus · 2006

  Micro Duo Deck

  The Duo Deck was a double-decker bus designed and manufactured by Micro Cars through a 2006 arrangement with Chinese suppliers. Chinese engine and chassis components were assembled in Sri Lanka. The bus featured a low-floor layout, ABS brakes, air conditioning and automatic doors, with stated capacity for 102 seated and 26 standing passengers.

• 2006

  Enter the double-decker bus sectorProduct launch

  Background

  Micro expanded beyond small passenger cars and vans through cooperation with Chinese suppliers.

  Action taken

  The company developed and manufactured the Duo Deck bus, assembling imported Chinese engine and chassis components in Sri Lanka.

  Aftermath

  The project extended Micro's activities into buses and larger commercial vehicles.

  Source

• 2003

  Launch the Micro Trend hatchbackProduct launch

  Background

  After the Privilege and early MPV work, Micro sought to expand its small-car range.

  Action taken

  The company introduced the Trend in January 2003 and began sales in April, using design and manufacturing relationships involving Pininfarina and Hafei Motors.

  Aftermath

  A revised New Trend version was introduced in 2010 and offered for sale by early 2011.

  Source

• 1999

  Pursue high local content in vehicle manufacturingStrategy

  Background

  Micro's initial vehicle project was intended to be designed, developed and prototyped for local manufacture, with a target of at least 60 percent local content.

  Action taken

  The company developed a running prototype and prepared the body and chassis for local production.

  Aftermath

  The project led to the first production vehicle in 2001, although legal registration was delayed until 2003.

  Source

1. 1Micro Carsen.wikipedia.org