KUALA LUMPUR: Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua) launched its Bezza 1.0L (automatic transmission) compact sedan in Sri Lanka yesterday.
Malaysia's largest carmaker by volume said in a media release today that Sri Lanka is its largest export market, where it sold 14,000 cars between 1997 and end-May 2017.
The Bezza model was launched in the island nation by Perodua’s distributor there, Unimo Enterprises Ltd, in an event attended by Perodua president and chief executive officer, Datuk Dr Aminar Rashid Salleh.
Unimo has sold 1,400 units of the Perodua Axia in Sri Lanka, and hopes for the same success with the Bezza.
“Perodua is still relatively small in Sri Lanka, but we see a lot of potential as the country’s economy expands.
“Starting this year, we are seriously looking at further expanding our current export markets and studying new ones as we work to realise our vision of becoming a regional player.
“Since we started our export programme, we have exported 75,000 vehicles. At the programme’s height, we exported to 21 different countries,” Aminar said at the launch.
Unimo Group chief executive officer and executive director Chanaka Yatawara said that Perodua has been very supportive of the company for the past 21 years and that his company will grow the Perodua brand in Sri Lanka.
“We believe that the Bezza will be well accepted in Sri Lanka, as this car has all the features that appeal to all; it is spacious, well-designed, fuel efficient and versatile – a winning combination,” Chanaka said.
The Perodua Bezza 1.0L (automatic transmission) is priced at 3.69 million Sri Lankan Rupees (RM103,162.29).
Since 1997, Perodua has exported five models to Sri Lanka – Kancil, Kenari, Kelisa, Viva and now, Bezza.