Chery Auto makes its comeback into the Philippine market, distributed by United Asia Auto Group Inc. (UAAGI), also the distributor of Foton. Sound familiar? It should. It first came to our shores in 2007. The recent years leading up to 2019 saw a resurgence of Chinese brands entering our country. Chery makes cars, crossovers and SUV’s, with the latter being the faster growing category here in the Philippines. Chery couldn’t be in better hands as UAAGI took Foton from the 9^th position in Philippine sales to the more lofty standing it enjoys today. This put UAAGI in an ideal position to take on and attempt to repeat the feat with another brand. After concentrating on commercial vehicles, they’re looking into Chery’s passenger cars. “The time is ripe for us to bring in a second automotive brand, and we are convinced that Chery Auto now has the right mix of design, features, technology, and pricing in its product line to make a strong impact on the Philippine market,” said UAAGI president, Rommel Sytin. Initial lineup Chery’s re-entry into the Philippine market is composed of an all-crossover lineup: the Tiggo2, Tiggo 5X, Tiggo 7, and the seven-seater Tiggo 8.  All of which are powered by modern Euro 5-compliant 1.5L four-cylinder fuel-injected, DOHC 16-valve gasoline engines (turbocharged for the Tiggo 7 and Tiggo 8). They’re mated to five-speed manual transmissions or six-speed automatics. All Tiggo models and variants are manufactured in Wuhu, China at Chery’s world-class, state-of-the-art, fully robotized plants. You’ll notice these crossover SUVs feature contemporary styling and are equipped with modern comfort, convenience and safety features. Higher-end variants have features found in well-known brands; like automatic LED headlights, smart key entry, UHD touch screen displays, cruise control, foot sensing power tailgates, power adjustable seats, LCD instrument clusters, panoramic sunroof, 18-inch alloy wheels and more. Chery’s standard safety features include six airbags, front and rear radar-based driving  aids, and a full suite of electronic driver-assist systems. About Chery UAAGI has full confidence in the Chery brand, which sold over 750,000 units last year. Chery has been among China’s biggest exporter of cars for the past 16 years. It has sold over 7.2 million vehicles in over 80 countries and is also a leading manufacturer of hybrid and full electric vehicles in China and the rest of the world. Price The new Chery crossover SUVs are priced as follows: the Tiggo 2 starting at P695,000; the Tiggo 5X starting at P818,000; the Tiggo 7 at P1,195,000; and the seven-seater Tiggo 8 at P1,280,000. To show their full confidence in the Chery vehicles, Chery Auto Philippines is also offering a 10-Year/1-million kilometer powertrain warranty on top of their five-year general vehicle warranty. Customers also get three-years free preventive maintenance service (PMS) for any Tiggo model. From left: Chery International Marketing Director, Tian Jinjun; Chery International EVP for Research and Development, Ray Bierzynski; UAAGI President, Rommel Sytin; Embassy of China Economic and Commercial Councilor, Jiang Jianjun; Chery International President, Zhang Guibing; Kenneth L. Sytin; and Chery International's Country Manager for the Philippines, Zhang Haiqi. “We are excited to bring in Chery. The new cars possess all the brand values Filipinos now look for and we are convinced that the local market will warmly receive these latest models,” said Sytin. The Chery dealership and service network will be announced soon. In the mean time, visit Chery Auto Philippines’ Facebook and Instagram pages on CheryAutoPhilippines. Text and Photos by Neil Pagulayan