GREAT WALL MOTORS MAKES COMEBACK TO PH MARKET
LUXURIANT Automotive Group Inc. (LAGI) and Great Wall Motor Co. Ltd. have formalized their partnership for the reentry of the Chinese car brand into the Philippine market.
The two companies signed a distributorship agreement on Oct. 26, 2022 at Marco Polo Ortigas Manila in Pasig City.
The strategic move was fueled by Great Wall Motor’s goal to expand its operations in the Philippines, closely following the opening of Malaysia and Thailand, and the SQ Group’s vision to further diversify their multi-business footprint. In attendance to witness the significant milestone were key officers of Great Wall Motor and the SQ Group of Companies.
LAGI, the automotive business division of SQ Group, was established in 1988. SQ Group currently holds interests in manufacturing, real estate, and importation and distribution, with three decades of experience in the Philippine market.
The group has gained insights on the Philippine auto industry, discovering that automotive products produced in China have increased dramatically in terms of quality and after-sales service, and their introduction into the Philippines is a viable business.
At the signing ceremony, Lilian Cui, general manager of the Great Wall Motors Philippines Project, said that the brand is experiencing bullish growth in Southeast Asian markets and the same will be true for the Philippine market.
Ruben Tan, president of Luxuriant Automotive, SQ Group’s automotive division, also said that in order to achieve the same success Great Wall Motor has reaped in Southeast Asia, his team will be committed in delivering a new customer experience through new technology and innovation, and after-sales excellence.
“In the next few weeks, we will be providing further information, such as our first dealer location and initial vehicle lineup,” said Tan.
Great Wall Motor and SQ Group promise to make premium vehicle features with top-notch exterior and interior designs more accessible to the Philippine market. According to Tan, the Philippine market can expect to take full advantage of Great Wall Motor’s rich product lineup that has earned excellent reviews from markets like Australia, South Africa, Thailand, among others.
After more than 30 years, Great Wall Motor has become one of the largest auto groups in China. With its considerable continuous investment on research and development, the car company is now capable of providing a comprehensive lineup of models that are globally competitive.
“Working with Great Wall Motor, we will leverage its product lineup strengths, and we would like to launch SUVs, pickup trucks and other popular categories in the Philippines. We look forward to new forms of energy for the Philippine customer. All this time, we will put the customers’ wants at the forefront of our local strategy, bringing enhanced products and services to local consumers, meeting them at their need,”Tan said, adding that Great Wall Motor will make 2023 a very exciting year for the Philippine automotive scene.
Great Wall Motor owns several brands offering crossovers, pickup trucks, SUVs, and electric vehicles (EVs). It is the leading pickup truck manufacturer in the Chinese domestic market, while also leading in the SUV segments with the Haval and Tank brands.
Great Wall Motor is one of the most recognized auto entities in China, with 1.280 million units sold in 2021, to more than 170 countries. To ensure continuous enhancement of its customers’ experience, it has established R&D centers in China, America, Canada, Germany, Austria, Japan, Korea, for advanced research and development of cars, core components, EV, and intelligence systems.
Great Wall Motor also has 10 factories with a full automotive manufacturing process in China and similar scale factories in Thailand, Brazil and Russia.