Foton celebrates 2019’s sales growth with dealers

Foton Motor Philippines, Inc., a division of the United Asia Automotive Group, Inc. (UAAGI), closed the year 2019 with a growth of 4 percent compared to 2018, outpacing the automotive industry’s 3.5 percent year-on-year growth and maintaining its position in the Top 10 Sales Performers list.

FMPI celebrated the milestone by hosting a Dealers’ Appreciation Night in the swanky ballroom of the City of Dreams, serving a five-course sit-down nouvelle cuisine dinner complete with a generous supply of fine wine, Scotch and craft beer.

Aside from dealer principals, officers and their teams, the event was attended by representatives of partner banks, financial institutions, and selected motoring media.

In his welcome remarks, FMPI president Rommel L. Sytin briefly reviewed the performance last year of the industry and Foton, plus the company’s achievements and initiatives so far.

Noting that the data jointly released by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) and the Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) showed total vehicle sales of 369,941 units last year, higher than the 357,410 units sold in 2018, Sytin said that in the second full year since the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law, vehicle sales seem to be on an uptrend.

THE FIRST AND ONLY. Foton closed the year with a growth of 4 percent compared to 2018, thus maintaining its No. 9 position at CAMPI-TMA and No. 10 overall in the industry. Foton is the first and only Chinese automotive brand to make it to the industry’s Top 10.

Sytin revealed that vehicle sales were driven by FMPI’s light commercial vehicles led by the Tornado light duty trucks, the Gratour MT and TM, and the TransVan (aside from passenger vehicles, Foton produces light-, medium- and heavy-duty trucks, agricultural and heavy machinery at its manufacturing plants in different cities and provinces in China, as well as overseas).

Sytin expressed confidence that despite rising global uncertainties, the Philippine economy remains strong and is projected to grow 6 percent in 2020

He traced the economy’s growth to continuous government infrastructure projects and the P182 billion of total foreign investment pledges approved just for the third quarter of 2019 that are set to start taking form this year. The investments approved in the third quarter last year were higher by four folds compared to 2018, he pointed out.

Sytin also cited the airport modernization projects of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) which will provide opportunities for people around the world to travel to, and explore more places in the Philippines, thereby promoting tourism arrivals.

“Such projects will decentralize and diversify economic development while stimulating the economic expansion of other provinces,” he added.

FOTON JEEPNEY. FMPI is doing its part to spur economic growth by participating in the DOTr’s Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) Modernization Program. FMPI, Sytin said, is taking steps to augment production volume and ensure fulfillment of cooperatives’ present and future requirements.

The F-Jeepney is manufactured at FMPI’s assembly plant in Clark Freeport Zone along with other Foton vehicles. Foton invested P1.2 billion for the construction of the plant on 11 hectares leased from the Clark Development Corp. for a period of 50 years. Opened and inaugurated in 2016, 10 years after Foton came to the Philippines via UAAGI, it is the first automotive assembly plant in Clark Freeport Zone and is capable of producing 12,000 vehicles a year.

The F-Jeepney uses the brand’s best-selling Tornado 2.4C light duty truck as it base platform with the rear body designed by Centro Manufacturing Corp., a leading builder of truck bodies.

Sytin claimed that through close coordination with the DOTr, Foton jeepneys are one of the first prototypes that earned the PNS certification, meaning full compliance with the DOTr-mandated specifications for Categories 1 and 2.

Meeting those specs, no doubt, was easy for FMPI since Foton in China is Asia’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturer with world-famous brands as partners such as Lotus, Motorola, and Bosch, and joint ventures with Cummins USA and Daimler AG for technological innovations.

An example is Blue Energy technology found in Cummins-powered and Euro 4-compliant diesel engines that offer power, reliability, efficiency and reduced emissions in every Foton vehicle.

Meanwhile, FMPI has increased its number of dealerships nationwide to 29 with the inauguration of four last year in Pasig; Puerto Princesa, Palawan; Bacoor, Cavite; and Metro Clark.

This year, Sytin said, dealership network expansion will continue to remain as FMPI’s focus with the goal of setting foot in more of both the developed and emerging market areas, as well as forging new and improved partnerships.

ISO CERTIFIED. But the achievement that Sytin is proudest of was finally winning ISO Certification for both UAAGI and FMPI.

He announced that after almost two years of grueling work, the certification for ISO 9001-2015 was awarded to UAAGI and FMPI last December. The IOS certification is made even more meaningful, he revealed, “because of my team’s tireless dedication to achieving this, which included sleepless nights, weekends lost, and of course, buckets of tears.”

He promised that with the IOS certification, “we will unceasingly challenge ourselves to be more relevant and competitive in the cutthroat industry by progressively improving our practices and processes, purposefully elevating our standards even further, and intensively developing each member of our human resources.”

All these will surely translate and reflect on all products and services provided to our dealer partners and customers, Sytin said. “Such a great milestone to end 2019, indeed!”

In conclusion, Sytin declared that FMPI will have another stellar performance this year with a double-digit growth.

“Kaya ba?,” the head of Foton Motor Philippines challenged his team and the dealers. He quoted the words of his idol, Muhammad Ali: “If my mind can conceive it and my heart can believe it—then I can achieve it!”

“Do you agree? We can achieve it!,” Sytin exclaimed confidently. “Kayang-kaya!”

 

GROUP AWARDS

SPECIAL AWARDS