Great Wall Motor appoints tire importer as new Philippine distributor

After lackluster sales in the past few years, Great Wall Motor has finally appointed a new distributor in Luxuriant Automotive Group Inc. (LAGI). The partnership was formally inked last October 26th during distributorship signing ceremonies at the Marco Polo Ortigas. 

LAGI is associated with Luxuriant Philmarketing, which distributes Sailun and Zeneos tires along with Advanti, PDW, and Enkei wheels. 

Lilian Cui, General Manager of Great Wall Motors' Philippines Project, and Ruben Tan, President of Luxuriant Automotive, were on hand to formalize the business venture.

As a relative newcomer in the automotive distribution business, LAGI will focus on bringing Great Wall Motor's enhanced products and services to local customers, says Tan. Among the products most likely to be earmarked for the Philippine market are the Haval Jolion, Haval H6, and POER pickup. Haval is a brand owned by Great Wall Motor, specializing in crossovers and SUVs.

Ora, an electric vehicle brand owned by Great Wall Motor, may also be a likely candidate for importation, given its popular presence in neighboring countries such as Malaysia and Thailand.

Exact specifications have yet to be revealed, but the Jolion can be expected to have a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. The mid-sized Haval H6, meanwhile, will likely feature a 2.0-liter gasoline engine with the same transmission. Both models will have upscale interiors and styling courtesy of former Jaguar-Land Rover designer Phil Simmons. The two crossovers may also feature Level 2 autonomous driving technology that can keep the vehicles centered in their lanes. 

The POER pickup could have a 2.0-liter turbo diesel with either a 6-speed manual gearbox or an 8-speed automatic. Haval's crossovers have received glaring reviews in the various markets they have been introduced. 

Great Wall Motor Co., Ltd. is a privately owned Chinese automobile manufacturer with its home base in Baoding, Hebei. Established in 1984, it is currently the eighth largest automobile manufacturer in China, with 1.281 million sales in 2021. Great Wall Motor Philippines, through its former distributor Statemotor Corporation, established its first showroom in Alabang in 2009.