BIZ BUZZ: Consunji endorses EV leader BYD

If the motoring group of Zobel-led Ayala Corp. is looking for a credible endorser for its BYD vehicle line, then it could consider checking out Isidro Consunji, chief executive of the Consunji group.

After all, Consunji, who leads the group that includes DMCI Holdings, DMCI Homes, Semirara Mining, Cemex and Maynilad, has not just one or two but five different BYD vehicles, from the Shark to the Sealion, in the garage in his home and office.

Consunji does not mind sharing with all who care to listen that he is “very happy” with the way that his BYD vehicles are performing, and has even turned on members of his family and colleagues in the group to also consider buying a BYD unit.

As he says, he has not heard of anyone complain about their BYD unit—a testament to how technologically advanced Chinese manufacturers have become.

Consunji believes that Chinese firms will “take over” the manufacturing world, sharing that Chinese companies are capturing more parts of the market that used to be dominated by Japanese heavy equipment manufacturers.

Not only are the Chinese counterparts able to churn out units that are cheaper by as much as 30 percent, he said, but they perform just as well as those of competition. And that price differential would have a significant effect on the group’s bottom line, considering that they are big purchasers of heavy equipment.

The buying decision has not yet been made, but in the meantime, Consunji is happy to cruise around in any one of his BYD units.