In a major stride for the local automotive industry, Rancon Auto Industries Limited has established a facility to paint cars ahead of assembly.

Previously, this factory brought already painted parts, assembled them and conducted various inspections before release into the market. But now, car bodies and components are painted before the other steps, said SM Shahjahan Selim, deputy general manager of factory operations.

Some models of Japanese brand Mitsubishi and Malaysian brand Proton cars are now undergoing this process at Rancon's facility, located within its industrial park in Bhabanipur village, Kashimpur Union, Gazipur.

Over the past year, the facility has undergone modernisation and expansion works to implement this initiative, he added.

This not only enhances the country's technological capabilities but also helps make cars more affordable for local customers, he said.

A group of journalists from Dhaka were taken to the Rancon Industrial Park yesterday to visit the factory.

Shihab Ahmed, chief operating officer at Rancon Auto Industries Ltd, said the company began its journey in 2017 with the assembly of the Mitsubishi Outlander model. Since then, the factory has been further modernised.

Rancon Auto Industries Limited has so far invested Tk 350 crore and employs over 300 people at the factory.

Currently, the sprawling 98,000 square-foot facility assembles four types of vehicles. Among them, vehicles of Japan's Mitsubishi and Malaysia's Proton brands are both painted and assembled onsite, Ahmed said.

Additionally, JAC pick-up trucks from China and Mercedes-Benz buses built with German technology are assembled at the facility, he added.

The main body structures of Mitsubishi and Proton vehicles are imported in welded form, after which all other processes, including painting, assembly, and finishing, are carried out at the factory.

Md Badiuzzaman, executive director at Rancon Auto Industries Ltd, said the facility houses the only international-standard test track in the country, where new vehicles undergo thorough testing for speed, braking, handling, stability, suspension, and overall performance, ensuring that durable and reliable vehicles reach customers.

Currently, this factory has the capacity to produce 2,000 units of Mitsubishi Xpander vehicles, 300 to 400 units of Proton X70 vehicles, 600 units of commercial JAC vehicles (trucks) and 360 units of commercial Mercedes vehicles (buses) annually, he added.

Mohammad Fahim Hossain, divisional head of marketing of the "Automotive Division 1" at Rancon Auto Industries Ltd, said trial production of the Mitsubishi Xpander and Proton X70 passenger car models are currently underway at their factory.

These two vehicles are expected to be officially launched in the market by June, he said.

The prices have not yet been finalised, but the company has given assurances that they will be set at an attractive and affordable range for Bangladeshi consumers, he added.

"We want to inform the people of the country that we have the capability to produce Japanese-standard vehicles. The world-class production facilities at this factory are certified by Japan's Mitsubishi Motors Corporation."