State-owned Pragoti Industries yesterday rolled out its vehicle assembly line after a year of recess for two models of Indian automobile manufacturer Mahindra and Mahindra.

Since 1998, Pragoti has been assembling Mitsubishi sport utility vehicles at its factory in Sitakunda upazila, but the contract with the Japanese company came to an end last year.

In October last year, Pragoti, an enterprise of Bangladesh Steel and Engineering Corporation, signed a three-year deal with Mahindra and Mahindra for assembling and marketing of the Mahindra Scorpio S10 and Scorpio Pik-Up Double Cab SUVs.

India’s most rugged Scorpio SUV seems to be a better and economic option for the government departments due to its durability and comfort as well as cheaper price than the Japanese and European vehicles, said Imtiaz Hossain Chowdhury, chairman of Bangladesh Steel and Engineering Corporation, at the launch event yesterday.

The prices of 2,200 CC Scorpio S10 SUV and 2,200 CC Scorpio Pik-up Double Cab, a mini SUV, have been fixed at Tk 46 lakh and Tk 31.50 lakh respectively. Both the models would come with a 12-month warranty. Scorpio S10 SUV is an ideal vehicle for Bangladesh's landscape, while being environment-friendly and fuel efficient, said Md Abul Khair Sardar, managing director of Pragoti.

The model is a good fit for mid-level government officials as well as security forces and diplomats at the field level, especially in the hills, he said.

Pragoti has initially imported parts for assembling 72 vehicles but it plans to sell 100 to 150 pieces of both the models annually. Its factory has the capacity to assemble three SUVs a day.

Mahindra and Mahindra Country Manager Pankaj Singh said the Scorpio SUV is one of the best selling products of the company in its home market; nearly 50,000 units are sold annually.

Rancon Autos would provide after-sales services for the vehicles, said its MD Monju Rani Saha.