AMW: 70% of Vehicles Sold in SL Bypass Authorised Agents — Grey Market or Freedom to Choose?

AMW's Managing Director just told the press that authorised distributors like themselves handle only around 30% of "normal" vehicle business in Sri Lanka — the other 70% moves through other channels, including roughly 30,000 Nissan and Suzuki units that entered the country outside the official distribution network. He says this unpredictability is costing Sri Lanka investor confidence, with global manufacturers reluctant to expand here when they don't control most of their own brand's sales. Agents argue this grey channel undercuts warranty support, genuine parts supply and after-sales accountability — and scares off brands from committing to the market long-term. Buyers counter that the "unofficial" route is often cheaper, faster and just as reliable, especially for popular Japanese models, and that agents mostly want to protect their margins, not your wallet. Have you bought outside the authorised agent and regretted it, or saved a packet and never looked back? ඔයාගේ වාහනේ ගත්තේ ඒජන්සියෙන්ද නැත්නම් වෙන එකකින්ද?