Major boost

The Jetour GAIA Space in Alabang

The Sytin-led UAAGI Auto Group, one of the country’s leading multi-brand distributors, has taken its operations up a gear despite the uncertainties clouding the prospects of the Philippine automotive market.

Driven by the belief that the country’s economic growth potential remains intact, UAAGI has forged strategic alliances with the Gateway and Prima Sierra groups to capture a bigger slice of the high-end SUV market with a retail presence in the Bonifacio Global City and Alabang commercial centers.

Under the deals signed on Monday, Gateway, one of the country’s largest dealers with a nationwide footprint, will manage the Jetour GAIA Space in BGC.

On the other hand, Prima Sierra, deemed a leading player in logistics, food and transportation, will manage the construction and operations of the Jetour GAIA Space in Alabang.

Jetour GAIA is the premium, high-luxury, electrified, off-road sub-brand of Jetour, one of the fastest-growing automotive brands in the country.

The BGC facility will occupy a prime commercial location at 7th Avenue corner 30th Street with official opening targeted for the third quarter this year. This will be followed by Prima Sierra’s Alabang facility along Commerce Avenue in Filinvest City in the fourth quarter.

At the signing of the agreements on Monday were top officials led by Alvin Lu, MG Gateway Mantrade Corp. General Manager; Markane Goho, MG Gateway Mantrade Corp. Chairman and CEO; Timothy Sytin, UAAGI Executive Director; Kenneth L. Sytin, UAAGI Vice Chairman; Miguelito L. Jose, JAPI Managing Director; Henson P. Lee, Prima Sierra Autohaus Inc. President and Janelyn S. Pua-Ng, Prima Sierra Autohaus Inc. Executive Director.

ONE FOR ALL, ALL FOR ONE From left, Prima Sierra Autohaus Inc. General Manager Jason Ng, Prima Sierra Autohaus Inc. Executive Director Atty. Janelyn S. Pua-Ng, Prima Sierra Autohaus Inc. President Henson P. Lee, UAAGI Vice Chairman Kenneth L. Sytin, UAAGI Executive Director Timothy Sytin, Jetour GAIA North EDSA General Manager Jeremy Ballesteros, JAPI Managing Director Miguelito L. Jose, MG Gateway Mantrade Corp. Chairman & CEO Markane Goho and Alvin Lu, MG Gateway Mantrade Corp. General Manager.

Back row standing from left, JAPI Deputy Sales Director Ryan Dela Cruz; JAPI Deputy Director for Dealer Development Hilda San Juan; JAPI Marketing Director Cherry May Delos Santos; UAAGI Director for Dealer Development Engr. Marvin Martinez; JAPI Sales Director Paul Nikko Sayson; Prima Sierra Autohaus Inc. General Manager Jason Ng and Jetour GAIA Deputy Director for Marketing Enrico Miguel Subido. Front row, seated from left, MG Gateway Mantrade Corp. General Manager Alvin Lu; MG Gateway Mantrade Corp. Chairman & CEO Markane Goho; UAAGI Executive Director Timothy Sytin; UAAGI Vice Chairman Kenneth L. Sytin; JAPI Managing Director Miguelito L. Jose; Prima Sierra Autohaus Inc. President Henson P. Lee and Prima Sierra Autohaus Inc. Executive Director Atty. Janelyn S. Pua-Ng

The addition of the Gateway and Prima Sierra dealerships in these commercial districts is part of UAAGI’s thrust to bring its coveted Jetour GAIA line closer to high net worth individuals who are in the market for vehicles that promise to provide more value for their money.

Miguelito Jose, Managing Director of Jetour Auto Philippines Inc. (JAPI), told the Inquirer in an interview that the partnership with these two groups signified the faith in what Jetour has to offer the market, considering that they are forging ahead with their investments when others may be more inclined to hold back.

“It is a volatile time, but I think it takes someone like these groups to recognize that the opportunities are still there,” said Jose.

The groups’ faith in the brand is not misplaced as it has caught the market’s attention despite the overcrowded field.

According to the latest report of the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc., Jetour sales have skyrocketed by 177 percent to 1,553 units and JAPI expressed confidence that sales would be sustained.

Jose believes that even if the Middle East crisis that has caused local electric vehicle sales to surge as more Filipinos make the switch amid fuel supply and price concerns, the shift to new energy vehicles such as those in the Jetour line will continue.

Thus the group will keep its foot on the accelerator and stay on the path to rapid expansion with the help of partners who share their belief in the future of electric vehicles in the Philippines.

These latest agreements with Gateway and Prima Sierra will bring Jetour GAIA’s network to three dedicated facilities.

The first is the fully operational Jetour GAIA Space North Edsa, which handles full-scale retail sales, services corporate accounts and provides complete aftersales service operations.

UAAGI has confirmed that it was already in advanced negotiations to sign up partners for at least two more GAIA Spaces in Metro Manila.

This second phase of its expansion will bring the Jetour GAIA Spaces network to five before the end of the year, thus establishing a comprehensive urban footprint conducive to ringing up sales of Jetour GAIA.

The expansion of the Jetour GAIA footprint is in step with the sustained market demand for the G700 plug-in hybrid full-size SUV, the flagship model of Jetour GAIA.

The G700 that brings luxury to the off-road automotive segment will be the main product offering at both the BGC and Alabang locations upon their openings.

Jetour, however, is set to further excite the market with the entry of a second model within the third quarter of this year.

The group is thus confident that with more models coming in and as the charging infrastructure continues to expand, Jetour will be able to win over more automotive dealer groups and partners who want to position themselves in the high-yield automotive segment that is primed for an inevitable rebound.