Runner Automobiles

Runner Automobiles Ltd.[1] (RAL) is a motorcycle manufacturer in Bangladesh. Runner manufactures 12 different motorcycles ranging in size from 80 to 150 CC,[2] Runner has become the market leader in sub 100 CC motorcycle segment in the country.[3] They are offering different motorcycles of various capacities and models. The principal product of the Company is 2 Wheeler. Runner produces a product range varying from 80 CC to 150 CC, with 12 models of 2 Wheeler and scooters. The products are sold to Customers and Corporate clients through Dealers, Company Owned Company Operated (COCO) stores, through tenders and recently initiated online retail mode.

Runner Automobiles Limited
Public limited company
IndustryAutomotive
FoundedJune 4, 2000 (2000-06-04)
FounderHafizur Rahman Khan
HeadquartersDhaka, Bangladesh
Key people
Reazul Haque Chowdhury (CEO & MD)
ProductsMotorcycles, Scooters
Total assets12,497,698,923 Taka (2016)
ParentRunner Group of Companies
RatingRating- A3 by Credit Rating Agency of Bangladesh Ltd
Websitewww.runnerbd.com

The market for 2 Wheeler is on the rise in Bangladesh, riding on an increase in disposable income among the general population and rapidly growing middle class.[4]

History

Runner Automobiles Ltd was incorporated as a private limited company in July 2000 and started its commercial operation since 2000 as an importer and trader of motorcycles. Later it was converted as public limited company in January 2012 and started the business of manufacturing and selling the motorcycle. Later it involves in assembling three wheeler vehicles. Subsequently, the Company established its facility of assembling engines and manufacturing other parts of motorcycle and presently established its effective distribution channel throughout the country with a network of more than 100 active dealers and over 270 sales centers along with own 27 operational showrooms. RAL's manufacturing facility is located at Bhaluka, Mymensingh. The factory is constructed with pre-fabricated steel structure on its own premises of 4,944.04 decimals land with a covered space of over 4,40,310 sft.

Corporate office of Runner Automobiles

Runner Automobiles Limited is a public company limited by shares and is domiciled in Bangladesh. The Company was formed and incorporated with the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms in Bangladesh on July 4, 2000 incorporation no C-40658 (17)/2000 under Companies Act 1994 as a private company limited by shares. The company was converted into a public limited company on January 26, 2012 under the Companies Act, 1994.

Technical collaborations

Runner had technical collaborations with Dayang Motors and Freedom in the past. In 2016, Runner Automobiles signed a collaboration agreement with UM Motorcycles to manufacture UM motorcycles in Bangladesh under the name of UM-Runner . The motorcycles will be manufactured at Runner's motorcycle manufacturing facilities at Bhaluka while UM International LLC will provide R&D support in technological & engineering fields as well as global component sourcing. UM-Runner motorcycles manufactured in Bangladesh, entered the market in the second quadrant of 2018. As per of the agreement Runner Automobiles in future will produce & export bikes for UM for India, Nepal & Sri Lanka.[5]

Products

The principal product of the company is 2 Wheeler & 3 Wheeler. The products are sold to customers and corporate clients through dealers, Company Owned Company Operated (COCO) stores, through tenders and recently initiated online retail mode. RAL's products range varies from 80cc to 150cc with about 12 models of 2 wheeler and scooters.

Factory
Runner Automobiles Factory. Situated at Mymensingh, Bhaluka.

Runner Automobile has its own manufacturing plant at Mymensingh District which is approximately 70 kilometer away from the capital Dhaka city. Factory covers an area of 200,000 square feet.[6] The factory is constructed on prefabricated steel structure on the company's own land.

It employs around 450 employees which includes factory manager, engineers, technicians and workers. It has production lines for pressing, wielding, assembling of engine, painting and quality control.

The factory is capable of producing four series of motorcycles. It produces twelve models of motorcycles. The plant capacity for producing motorcycles each day are 500.[6]

Runner being a manufacturer has been gearing up its research and development facilities especially in areas of Product Development and Testing. Apart from having various machines and equipment like Salt Spray Test Chamber, Coordinate Measuring Machine, Suspension Test Machine, Universal Load Test Bench, Electric Component Test Bench etc. RAL has recently ordered certain latest Test facilities like 2 Wheeler & 3 Wheeler Engine and Chassis Dynamo-meters from India which would further help enhance the Products performance on parameters of Torque, Power Acceleration, Fuel efficiency, Braking, Gradient Drive-ability and emissions etc. These engine and chassis dynamometers would be commissioned within 2016 and strengthen RAL R&D efforts.[4]

Brand ambassador

Shakib Al Hasan, the captain of the Bangladesh's cricket team is the Brand Ambassador for Runner Group.[7] He had become the brand's ambassador in 2012. He has signed another contract with Runner Automobiles in July 2017, for the next two years. According to the contract, "Shakib would also be obliged to promote Bajaj 3 Wheelers (LPG, Diesel, Cargo) and 4 wheeled Qute that are distributed in Bangladesh by Runner Automobiles under Bajaj- Runner association."[8]

Leadership team

Chairman

Hafizur Rahman Khan

Mr. Hafizur Rahman Khan, born in 1955, is the Chairman of Runner Automobiles Limited.[9] He completed his B. Com (Hons), M. Com (Management) from University of Rajshahi. After completion of his education he started his career in a private organization named Farmland Engineering Limited in 1978 where he served till 1983. Then, he joined HS Enterprise Limited and served there till 1999 as Director Operation. Subsequently, he established Runner Automobiles Limited and is actively involved in the operations of the company. He is one of the most experienced industrialists in the automobiles sector. Hafizur Rahman Khan has been selected as Commercially Important Person (CIP) for the period 2013-2014.[10]

Managing Director & CEO

Reazul Haque Chowdhury

Mr. Reazul Haque Chowdhury appointed as the Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of RAL on November 11, 2018. Mr. Reazul Haque Chowdhury has started his career in British American Tobacco and worked for 10 years in different roles in Sales and Marketing functions. He had a very successful stint of 6 years in Unilever Bangladesh Limited as Customer Management Director from 2002 to 2008. He has worked in Reckitt Benckiser as Managing Director from 2008 to 2016 in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Thailand Cluster. Prior to this move to RAL, Mr. Chowdhury was General Manager, South Asia (Bangladesh, India and Pakistan) in Avery Dennison RBIS.

Mr. Reazul Haque Chowdhury completed his Bachelor and Masters in Marketing from University of Dhaka and Advance Management Program from INSEAD, France.

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References
  1. "Runner Automobiles Ltd". Runnerbd.com. Archived from the original on 2012-06-21. Retrieved 2012-07-04.
  2. "Runner Automobiles Ltd". Runnerbd.com. Archived from the original on 2012-01-24. Retrieved 2012-07-04.
  3. "DriveSpark - India-Bangladesh First Automotive Show Begins In Dhaka". www.drivespark.com. 2 February 2017. Retrieved 2017-10-24.
  4. Red-Herring Prospectus. Dhaka: Runners Automobiles Limited. 2 October 2016. p. 3.
  5. https://www.bikebd.com/um-runner-motorcycle-launch-bangladesh-event-product-details/
  6. "Runner Automobile Limited | রানার অটোমোবাইল লিমিটেড". runnerbd.com. Retrieved 2017-10-24.
  7. http://www.banglanews24.com. "Shakib Runner's brand ambassador again". www.banglanews24.com. Retrieved 2017-10-25.
  8. "Shakib to remain Brand Ambassador of Runner for 2 more years". www.prnewsbd.com. Retrieved 2017-10-25.
  9. "Runner makes foray into Nepal with 7 bikes". Retrieved 2017-12-21.
  10. Faruk Mehedy (2015-11-19), TOWARDS GROWTH HAFIJUR RAHMAN KHAN RUNNER CHAIRMAN, retrieved 2017-12-21

Further reading
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