RANCON Auto Industries Ltd has unveiled the Bangladesh-manufactured Mitsubishi Xpander, a locally built seven-seater family SUV equipped with a 1.5-litre MIVEC petrol engine. The launch marks a major milestone for Bangladesh's automotive industry, bringing together Mitsubishi's renowned Japanese engineering and RANCON's local manufacturing expertise.

The launch ceremony took place at RANCON Industrial Park, with His Excellency SAIDA Shinichi, Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh, attending as the chief guest. The event was also attended by Romo Rouf Chowdhury, Group Managing Director of RANCON Holdings, and Farhana Karim, Managing Director of RANCON Auto Industries. Senior executives from Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC), alongside government officials, business leaders and representatives from the public and private sectors, were also present.

RANCON's 52-acre industrial park serves as a manufacturing hub for several leading global brands, including Mitsubishi, Mercedes-Benz, Suzuki, Proton, JAC, LG and Toshiba, reflecting the Group's expanding industrial footprint and growing manufacturing expertise.

Takao Kato, Chief Executive Officer of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, said, "This marks the beginning of a promising journey. Designed specifically for ASEAN markets, the Xpander features a dual air-conditioning system and has received an overwhelmingly positive response across the region. In partnership with RANCON, we look forward to building a future of excellence and reliability in Bangladesh.

In keynote, Romo Rouf Chowdhury addressed RANCON's long-standing partnership with Mitsubishi and the company's vision for the future. "As Mitsubishi's official distributor in Bangladesh for more than 50 years, we have now established a world-class manufacturing facility capable of producing vehicles to global quality standards," he said. "The locally assembled Xpander comes with a five-year warranty, two years of complimentary servicing and access to 11 after-sales service centres across the country."

Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh His Excellency SAIDA Shinichi described the launch as a milestone in the growing strategic and technological partnership between Bangladesh and Japan. "This is more than an industrial achievement; it reflects the strength of the enduring friendship between our two countries," he said. The launch event was also attended by actor Siam Ahmed, the brand ambassador for Mitsubishi Motors Bangladesh, along with other distinguished guests.