EcoDyip invests P2B in Mahindra PUVs

AT the contract signing are, from left, Arvind Mathew Chief of International Operations Mahindra and Mahindra Automotive Group; Felix Mabilog Jr., president of Mahindra Philippines; Dennis Trajano, managing director of ecoDyip, Inc. and Joydeep Moitra, VP and Head of Automotive Exports Mahindra

Mahindra Philippines staged a turnover ceremony last Friday of 100 modern jeepney units to EcoDyip, Inc., a newly formed local transport company which aims to penetrate the government’s massive and lucrative public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program.

EcoDyip has a contract with Mahindra Philippines to supply a thousand Mahindra modern jeepney units worth P2 billion.

The turnover ceremony was held at the Megatent in Libis, Quezon City.

Veteran automotive industry executive Felix J. Mabilog, Jr., Mahindra Philippines president, represented the company in handing over the units to Dennise Trajano, EcoDyip, Inc. managing director.

Mahindra Philippines, together with its parent firm CAC Columbian Autocar Corporation (CAC) owned by industrialist/businessman/politician Jose Alvarez, had put up a modern and fully equipped 10-hectare assembly plant in the Laguna International Industrial Plant (LIIP) complex.

According to Mahindra Philippines, the plant has an annual capacity of 10,000 units.

Trajano, who represented his company in the deal, said that he is “venturing into the local jeepney-bound commuter line,” and feels confident that the Mahindra T20 and Supro Modern Jeepney which it has chosen as carriers, are more than capable of meeting the requirements of the commuting public.”

“Having tested the Mahindra T20 and Supro Modern Jeepneys on the road for days, I find the vehicle responsive, efficient, and with good handling capabilities,” Trajano said.

“One advantage worth mentioning is its air-conditioning system, which can provide comfortable cooling power even when the units are fully loaded,” he added.

Trajano has close ties with the group behind Mahindra, and has been in business with the CAC group who distributes other automotive brands in the country.

Regarding their choice of Mahindra vehicles, he said that “Mahindra is a Fortune 500 conglomerate with over $22 billion in annual revenues. Its global presence spans seven continents and over 100 countries, with over 200,000 employees worldwide. It is in aerospace, information technology, agribusiness, defense, financial service, vacation ownership among other business interests. It is the number one tractor producer in the world and the number one producer of utility vehicles in India. With close to 1.5 billion in India’s population, how can you go wrong?”

EcoDyip has a contract with Mahindra Philippines to supply a thousand Mahindra modern jeepney units worth P2 billion

The engine for the Mahindra T20 and cab-and-chassis for the Mahindra Supro Modern Jeepneys will be imported from India, but body, chassis and other custom modifications will be done in the Philippines.

These factory-built units will carry the full manufacturer warranty.

EcoDyip’s vision for the government’s PUV modernization program is to gradually help ease road traffic conditions with Mahindra-badged vehicles on the road, using its Euro 4 compliant diesel engines, in line with the government’s clean air environment initiatives.

EcoDyip will also alleviate unemployment by hiring jeepney drivers who will be displaced by the government’s PUV modernization program.

The company will further train the jeepney drivers to improve driving skills, safety consciousness, and proper etiquette in dealing with passengers.

As part of its modernization efforts, EcoDyip will also introduce a better payment method using an automated fare collection system.