Dreamco Automobile Co.

[jpdm]

Chinese vehicles get new positive image

Published on Tuesday, 21 August 2012 00:00
Written by IRMA ISIP


Chinese brands have long been associated with cheap and poor quality vehicles. A joint venture is working to shake off that negative image.

Jiangling Motors Co. through its local partner Dreamco Automobile Co., part of the Star Motors Group of the Lee family, in 2009 braved the market and began distributing JMC lineup of trucks.

Shortly after, Dreamco leveled up and started assembling these trucks at Star Motor’s facilities in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

Today, the company sets its sights on assembling a total of eight models, including two newest additions to its lineup, a sports utility vehicle and a new pick-up.

Gregorio Yee, Dreamco chief operating officer, admits selling a China brand has been a struggle in the Philippines. But he said the company has proved critics wrong as it has yet to receive any negative reports on vehicles sold so far.

It is also little known to consumers that JMC vehicles are based on more known vehicles like Isuzu and Ford.

Yee said Dreamco may be selling less - about 161 units in 2011 -- than the bigger Chinese brands like Foton and JAC, but it is slowly building the JMC name to give the market options.

Yee said JMC vehicles particularly its Hunter pick-ups are selling well in the provinces. Hunter, which was first to be assembled, sells about 20 units a month at a price of P680,000 per unit.

Because of the popularity of pick-ups, Dreamco will start assembly of the Vigor next generation pick-up beginning 2013 with target availability by May also next year. This model will be priced at about P800,000.

For the Vigor and Orion, the company has invested another $1 million. The models are made on a common platform.

The company now has 14 dealerships nationwide.

Dreamco is bringing JMC brand to a new level with the assembly of a mid-sized SUV, Orion S350. It would initially be available in mid-October.

Dreamco now assembles three models of light trucks, two pick-up trucks (double-cab and single cab) and 4x4 variants of these models.

The first of the vehicles it produced locally was the Hunter pick-up model which is an Isuzu-based vehicle. JMC is partly owned by Isuzu Motors of Japan in China.

The Orion, as well as the Vigor, a new double-cab pick-up were developed by JMC in collaboration by Ford.

JMC’s Hunter pick-up will continue to exist alongside the Vigor and they will be separated by price point and function, according to Yee.

He said the Hunter will remain to the workhorse of the line-up while the Vigor will combine durability, versatility and function with update and modern good looks and styling.

Orion is JMC’s first foray into the lucrative passenger vehicle segment.

A bestseller in JMC’s global portfolio, the Orion S350’s production capacity in a new plant in Jiangxi province is over 300,000 units.

The all-new Orion S350 mid-size SUV and Vigor were along with along with facelifts of the tough Compadre and Partner light and medium-duty trucks were formally launched at the Philippine International Motor Show last week.

Yee said the Compadre light truck series and the Partner medium truck line are the ideal partners of today’s entrepreneurs,

Dreamco is the exclusive distributor of JMC vehicles in the Philippines. Dreamco is part of the Star Motors Group, the only surviving 100 percent Filipino-owned car assembly operation in the Philippines to date.

The manufacturing facility in Sta. Rosa, Laguna boasts of world-class assembly facilities with the strictest quality control levels gained from over four decades experience in the assembly of such brands as Mercedes Benz, Volvo and Nissan.

Dreamco now has over 200 technicians at the Star Motors plant as well as the development of local talent and local parts for use in JMC vehicles.

Link:Chinese vehicles get new positive image

[dct]

pumasok ako sa hunter and orion nung PIMS. ang baho sobra nung loob. amoy plastic. although nung una tiniis kong pumasok sa orion kasi curious ako sa space dun sa 3rd row. haha. medyo masikip pero ok lang naman kung malapitan lang ang biyahe.

[jpdm]

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/5...chunterjpg.jpg

Soon to be assembled in the Philippines:


JMC Vigor

Gregorio Yee, Dreamco chief operating officer, admits selling a China brand has been a struggle in the Philippines. But he said the company has proved critics wrong as it has yet to receive any negative reports on vehicles sold so far.

It is also little known to consumers that JMC vehicles are based on more known vehicles like Isuzu and Ford.

Yee said Dreamco may be selling less - about 161 units in 2011 -- than the bigger Chinese brands like Foton and JAC, but it is slowly building the JMC name to give the market options.

Yee said JMC vehicles particularly its Hunter pick-ups are selling well in the provinces. Hunter, which was first to be assembled, sells about 20 units a month at a price of P680,000 per unit.

Because of the popularity of pick-ups, Dreamco will start assembly of the Vigor next generation pick-up beginning 2013 with target availability by May also next year. This model will be priced at about P800,000.

For the Vigor and Orion, the company has invested another $1 million. The models are made on a common platform.

The company now has 14 dealerships nationwide.

Dreamco is bringing JMC brand to a new level with the assembly of a mid-sized SUV, Orion S350. It would initially be available in mid-October.

Dreamco now assembles three models of light trucks, two pick-up trucks (double-cab and single cab) and 4x4 variants of these models.

The first of the vehicles it produced locally was the Hunter pick-up model which is an Isuzu-based vehicle. JMC is partly owned by Isuzu Motors of Japan in China.

The Orion, as well as the Vigor, a new double-cab pick-up were developed by JMC in collaboration by Ford.

JMC’s Hunter pick-up will continue to exist alongside the Vigor and they will be separated by price point and function, according to Yee.

source:Malaya Business News Online - Philippine Business News | Online News Philippines - Chinese vehicles get new positive image