Auto Asia gathers Ssangyong, Changan in one dealership

Ssangyong Musso Grand

THE introduction of a new pickup variant and an SUV model highlighted the opening of Auto Asia’s first dealership, which brings together in one facility the Korean Ssangyong and the Chinese Changan automotive brands.

The brands are distributed locally by SsangYong Berjaya Motor Philippines, Inc. and Berjaya Auto Asia, Inc.

The companies’ president, Japheth Castillo, said the advantage of the Auto Asia dealership is that buyers “can choose from a wide range of products … from SUVs, pickup trucks, MPVs, or small trucks” in one venue. The vehicles offered can serve both family and business use, and are assured of after-sales service support, the executive noted.

Changan Honor S

Auto Asia is located on a 1,300-square-meter facility by the side of the national road in Pulong Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, Laguna. Displayed here are both Ssangyong and Changan models. The place contains a service area which can accommodate eight vehicles. Five of the service bays have lifters. Other equipment available are tire changers, and wheel balancing and alignment machines.

In a news release Auto Asia bared it is set to open dealerships in Metro Manila and other places in the country.

Launched during the opening of the Santa Rosa facility were the Ssangyong Musso Grand, the long-wheelbase version of the Musso pickup, and the Ssangyong Rexton, a seven-seat SUV.

The Musso Grand offers a bed 310 millimeters longer than the Musso’s, resulting in a storage capacity of 1,434 liters. It also trades in the coil spring rear suspension in the Musso with leaf springs. The shift granted the Musso Grand an increased payload capacity of 1,025 kilograms, up from the Musso’s 850-kilogram rating.

The Musso Grand, like the Musso and Rexton, is powered by a 2.2-liter, four-cylinder e-XDi 220 turbocharged diesel engine that makes 181hp and 420Nm. Either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission sends the power to a 4×2 or a 4×4 system.

Other features of the Musso Grand include a sunroof, brown leather upholstery, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and a 3.5-inch screen that serves as the instrument cluster.

These features, along with the engine and 4×2 and 4×4 drivetrains, are shared by the Musso Grand with the Rexton SUV — which is also propped on the Musso’s pickup platform. The Rexton is billed as being the “widest medium-sized SUV” in the market.

Ssangyong Rexton

The Grand Musso and Rexton add to Ssangyong’s range composed of the Tivoli subcompact SUV and the Rodius nine-seat MPV.

All the Ssangyong models are covered by a five-year or a 100,000-kilometer warranty and free periodic maintenance service for three years.

Changan complements the Ssangyong lineup by offering the Honor S seven-seat MPV whose sliding doors make for easy ingress and egress, and the Star Truck small truck, which is targeted at small and medium-scale businesses.

Changan Star truck

Auto Asia during its opening also announced the launch of its Mobile Service Van, which will provide periodic maintenance service to customers living within a 100-kilometer radius from the dealership.