Will the Wood Snake bring fortune to Chinese carmakers in PH?
Once considered the pariahs of the local car industry, Chinese car manufacturers have exploded in popularity over the last two decades.
Gone are the days of copycat designs, shoddy build quality and interiors that were havens for glue-sniffers – the People’s Republic has won Filipinos over with its originality, attention to detail and unbeatable value for money. This is down to the country’s relentless drive to streamline production processes and stay at the forefront of vehicle technology.
And among those at the forefront of this is the United Asia Automotive Group Inc. (UAAGI), helmed by the highly capable Rommel Sytin – his group officially handles Chery, Foton, BAIC, and Lynk & Co in the Philippines.
Indeed, the latest figures from the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines show that from January to November 2024, two UAAGI brands made it into the top 15. These include Foton with 3,170 units (Rank 11) and Chery with 2,639 units (Rank 13).
And let’s not forget – China is one of the global leaders in electric-vehicle (EV) production, with many of UAAGI’s products already embracing this trend. This means the firm is perfectly positioned to make the most of the Philippines’ electric revolution.
We take a look at how UAAGI’s brands would fare in the Year of the Wood Snake.
Chery
Chery Auto Philippines is one of the longest-running Chinese car brands in the Philippines.
But the brand truly took off under the vastly more capable management of UAAGI, which officially took over in November 2019. Since then, Chery Auto Philippines has rolled out a wide range of attractive and well-priced models, such as the Tiggo 2 Pro subcompact crossover, the Tiggo 7 Pro Hybrid compact crossover and the flagship Tiggo 8 Pro PHEV seven-seat crossover.
The brand also celebrated its fifth anniversary under UAAGI last year by highlighting its numerous achievements, including its industry-leading Premium Preserv after-sales package and its highly respected women’s volleyball team, the Chery Tiggo Crossovers.
Given that UAAGI has resurrected Chery Auto Philippines into a truly respectable brand that highlights value for money, expect more great products from Chery Auto’s global lineup to come to our shores.
BAIC
The Beijing Automotive Group Co., Ltd., formerly known as the Beijing Automotive Industry Corporation or BAIC, officially returned to the Philippines in April last year under UAAGI.
The carmaker has over six decades in global vehicle production, ranging from passenger vehicles to commercial trucks and buses. And its local lineup is an interesting mix of crossovers and uniquely styled, off-road-capable sport-utility vehicles (SUV).
One of BAIC Philippines’ most appealing models is the B60 Beaumont seven-seat SUV, which is also the country’s first diesel-hybrid. It is powered by an electrified 2.0-liter turbo diesel engine pumping out 161 horsepower and 400 Newton-meters of torque, mated to a ZF 8-speed automatic.
It was even able to convert veteran actor Ian Veneracion, who became BAIC Philippines’ ambassador after he had been wowed by the B60 Beaumont’s luxurious and spacious cabin, rugged looks and segment-leading technology.
BAIC Philippines also offers the BAIC B30e Dune HEV, X55 Verve five-seater subcompact crossover, the X7 Grandeza five-seater compact crossover, the B40 Ragnar five-seat SUV, and the B80 Wagon luxury SUV. We think the company will bring in more models that will delight more Filipinos, celebrities or otherwise.
Foton
As a testament to the lasting appeal of Chinese automakers in the Philippines, Foton Motor Philippines Inc. (FMPI) celebrated its 18th anniversary last year.
Despite facing a multitude of challenges throughout nearly two decades, FMPI became UAAGI’s top-selling Chinese brand not only because of skillful management, but also because of its attractively priced models. Indeed, the company has gone beyond just offering commercial vehicles by entering the electrified space with its Tunland Diesel Hybrid pick-up truck.
FMPI also invested P1.2 billion for its assembly plant in the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga, providing jobs to over 700 Filipinos and producing over 12,000 vehicles a year. And with plans to expand its national dealer network, Foton is poised to have an even stronger 2025.
Lynk & Co
UAAGI’s newest Chinese car brand sounds like it could sell boutique watches – and that seems to be the approach with Lynk & Co, which is a joint venture between Zeekr and Geely Auto.
Similar to Geely Auto’s luxury car subsidiary Volvo Cars, Lynk & Co is based in Gothenberg, Sweden and specializes in premium vehicles with available electrified powertrains. The carmaker officially debuted at last year’s Manila International Auto Show and opened its first Philippine dealership in Alabang in June 2024.
Among its most innovative models is the very stylish 01 PHEV crossover, which rides on the same Compact Modular Architecture platform as the Volvo XC40 and the Polestar 2 EV. The 01 PHEV is powered by a turbocharged 1.5-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve inline-3 gasoline engine mated to an electric motor.
Combined output is a healthy 258 horsepower and 265 Newton-meters of torque. Lynk & Co Philippines claims a maximum EV range of 69 kilometers, while the life-saving advanced driver assist system is happily standard.
Given Lynk & Co’s prodigious pedigree and partners, the 01 PHEV is just the start of a whole range of exciting models that can finally be called credible alternatives to very pricey Japanese hybrids.
While UAAGI has helmed some of the country’s most successful Chinese auto marques, more brands from the People’s Republic can be seen in Part 2 of this report in the next issue of Inquirer Mobility.
