President Duterte graces GAC Motors brand launch

From left, Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” G, Legado Motors, Inc. chief finance officer Regina Lim, Legado Motors, Inc. chairman Luis Chavit Singson, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, GAC Motor China deputy general manager Zhan Song Guang; Legado Motors, Inc. chief executive officer Wilbert Lim, and Senate President Tito Sotto.

No less than Pres. Rodrigo Duterte was the guest of honor during the formal launch of GAC Motors hosted by Legado Motors, Inc. (LMI), the appointed exclusive distributor of China’s fastest-growing automaker in the Philippines.

LMI, together with its business partners, launched GAC brand last Nov. 7 at the Metrotent, Metrowalk Commercial Complex, Pasig City.

LMI is owned by businessman and politician Luis “Chavit” Singson, whose business empire ranges from real estate, public transport, construction, retail, mining, and online entertainment under the LCS Group of Companies.

With a keen eye on business opportunities, Singson also made a bid for the third telecom service provider in the country.

His son-in-law, Wilbert Lim, is the CEO of LMI, and has intimated to the Inquirer that Governor Singson (or “Gov,” as he is affectionately called) sees a very bright future for GAC for the country.

When Gov visited the GAC China plant, he was very impressed, according to Lim.

“We at Legado Motors are committed to provide world-class vehicles at affordable prices,” Lim shared.

GAC Philippines plans to be a leader in providing luxury yet budget-friendly dream cars for the Filipino people.

President Duterte speaks before special guests during the formal launch of GAC Motors at the Metrotent in Pasig.

The event was not only attended by businessmen and politicians including Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto, but was also star-studded with celebrities like Hollywood actor Steven Segal and the gorgeous Alice Dixson and Vina Morales.

It was also Duterte himself who unveiled one of the models during the brand launch.

Founded in 2008, Guangzhou Automobile Motor Corporation Limited (GAC Motor) started as a small automobile plant with humble beginnings in Hualong Town, Guangzhou, China.

In less than a decade, GAC Motor has grown and expanded with four plants assembling vehicles in Guangzhou, Huangzhou, Yichang, and Xinjiang.

The GA8 executive sedan

In a short span, GAC Motor established overseas markets in the Middle East, South America, and Africa with a short term goal of producing one million vehicles by 2020.

GAC’s strategy of integrating quality and excellent customer experience seems to be paying off. All its GAC Motor models received 5-star ratings in the China Automotive Technology and Research Center’s China-New Car Assessment Program (C-NCAP) crash test, making GAC the only car brand in China with a full 5-star safety rating.

The flagship GS8 SUV

Moreover, GAC Motor ranked number 1 in the J.D. Power’s Initial Quality Study for five consecutive years from 2013 to 2017.

Unveiled during the event were several GAC cars and SUVs, among them the GA4 sedan (available in 1.5-liter manual and 1.3-liter gas turbo automatic transmissions), the GS4 subcompact SUV, the GA8 executive sedan (available in four- and five-seater variants), the GM8 premium seven-seater minivan, and the flagship model, the GS8 large SUV (available in 4×2 and 4×4 variants).

The first GAC showroom located beside the Metro Walk compound along Ortigas Avenue was also inaugurated on the same day.