The brand builder
In the Philippine auto industry, many are, no doubt, familiar with one of its most notable figures, Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo. This luminary has made a name for herself by taking the helm of what many may perceive as challenging brands. She has taken them from obscurity to popularity, building these brands’ reputations from undesirable to enviable.
During the pandemic, she embarked on her latest challenge: introducing the Changan brand to Philippines with the arrival of Changan Motor Philippines, Inc. (CMPI). Changan vehicles debuted at the height of the pandemic making with a strong debut with the introduction of five new models all at once.
“Many have asked why we are launching a new brand in this challenging environment. The answer is simple — as an industry veteran of 20 years, I strongly believe Changan is a promising brand, a challenger brand with vehicles and services that will excite the Philippine market at this most unexpected time,” CMPI President and CEO Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo said.
Perez-Agudo has done her homework, bringing in models loaded with above-class technology and safety features while still at competitive prices.
CMPI’s “Top 5” line-up is composed of the Alsvin Subcompact sedan, the Subcompact SUV CS35 Plus, the Compact SUV CS75 Plus, the seven-seater mid-size SUV CS95, and the Eado EV460 electric vehicle. They also boast of features unique in their respective segments and are wired for connectivity.
“I am also a believer in offering Filipinos a wider range of product options, and Changan vehicles have that winning combination of intelligent features, trend-setting designs, extensive safety features, and outstanding engine performance. With its attractive price points, motorists no longer need to pay a premium to enjoy premium features. We guarantee that once you drive a Changan, it will change your mindset, change the status quo and definitely change your life,” said Ms. Agudo.
Most notably, Changan was not shy about immediately entering the still budding fully-electric vehicle market, a market where even some of the country’s most established brands have hesitated to provide an offering in light of the lack of charging facilities or favorable legislation and subsidies.
Even without these, the Eado EV460, named the best “green” car in China, has all the amenities including Six Airbags, Electric Stability Control, Leather Seats, and more, all for a price tag of just P1.8-million.
To further put consumers’ worries at ease, Changan vehicles come with a five-year, 150,000-kilometer warranty and free Preventive Maintenance Services (PMS) for the first year, or up to 20,000 kilometers. Each model completed 4-million kilometers in test mileage plus 4,500 tests in 15 areas including strength, safety, and environment.
Rather than looking at the past, Perez-Agudo believes in looking forward and how much more easily we can recover if we hit the ground running.
“In these challenging times, we need to get on with our lives and move forward. And that requires safe, technology-driven mobility options to bring us to a better normal, a better future. We hope that the introduction of Changan in the Philippines will serve as a shot in the arm for the ailing auto industry. This launch underscores our strong confidence in the brand, the auto industry, and the Philippine economy. Let us drive towards this change together,” Ms. Agudo asserted.