Govt drops plan to make CNG-run autorickshaw after strong opposition from an Indian automaker Indian Hero Honda frustrates Atlas step  The government has shelved its plan to manufacture CNG-driven three-wheelers after strong opposition from an Indian automaker, officials said. State-owned Atlas Bangladesh took the step to make CNG (compressed natural gas) auto rickshaws within the country because of its huge demand in the transport sector. Hero Honda, which supplies its parts to assemble the popular motorcycles in Atlas's plant, formally obstructed the initiative. The Atlas's board of directors recently decided not to go ahead with the project as it might "sour" relations with the motorcycle maker. "We've dropped our CNG project," AFM Saifuzzaman, managing director of Atlas Bangladesh, told the FE. Earlier, industries minister Dilip Barua announced that Bangladeshi company would manufacture CNG three-wheelers. "We're looking for prospective investors from China and India for the project," he told an annual performance meeting of his ministry. Atlas chief said it got offers from China and India for the project.He said: "Hero Honda asked us not to manufacture any CNG three-wheelers in the plant where its vehicles are being assembled." Atlas, formed in 1966 under private management, is a publicly listed company, which had planned to make 500 units of CNG three-wheelers at the initial stage. Currently the state enterprise mainly assembles all brands of Hero Honda, grabbing the second position in the country's booming car market. It also makes limited number of Mishuk, also a three-wheeler. Uttara Motors, a private group, is the largest importer of CNG-three wheelers in the country. |
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