AC Motors, a units of the Ayala Group of Companies, has launched the Maxus D60, a compact van which is expected to drive up company sales to at least 1,000 units in 2021.
Company director for digital solutions Jun Cajayon said the new Maxus D60 with its sub-compact features for sports utility vehicle (SUV) pricing will add to the brand’s volume driven-models which are the top three variants of G10, G50, and the pick-up model T60.
“Our aim for this year is actually a thousand units in sales or five (5) times our sales in 2020. We’ve accumulated a total of 200 units in the past months. And the price positioning would be that of an SUV but with the price of a sub-compact SUV,” he said in a briefing that followed the virtual launch held February 5, 2021.
The unit’s price point, which is a little over P1 million, has already factored in the added taxes under the provisional safeguard duties on imported vehicles, Cajayon said. The brand was able to bring in the first batch of units before the safeguard measure took effect.
The D60 is Maxus first offering for an SUV. AC Motors believe that the model is to the liking of Filipinos because of the “cross-over” style and the model’s excellent performance.
For the year, Maxus plans to introduce 5 new models including the D60. A second model will be launched by mid-year and the 3 models are being negotiated to be brought in, but the brand assured it will exert all effort to beef up Maxus models in the Philippines.
AC Motor president Antonio Zara expressed confidence in the capability of the local automotive business especially the commercial vehicle segments like pick-ups, vans and trucks to recover in 2021, despite the added provisional safeguard duties.
“Over the past 5 years commercial vehicles grew from 25 percent of total industry to 24 percent in 2020. Technically, the new Maxus we are introducing is not a commercial vehicle since it is intended for passenger use. It has, however, a very strategic role in improving the viability of our Maxus dealer network to support our continued expansion plans,” he said.
The brand is also working out new dealer proposals in five strategic areas to add to the brand’s existing 8 dealerships in Alabang, Bacolod, Cahayan de Oro, Cebu, Iloilo, Mandaluyung, Quezon City and Taguig.
Maxus, introduced in 2019, is a China brand with over 125 years of British history. It has brought in 5 models and promised to bring more as the brand gains local support.
“The Maxus brand strengthens the commercial vehicle line-up of AC Motors’ distributor business. It fits well in complementing our other brands,” Zara said.
AC Motor holds the distributorships for auto brands such as Kia, Volkswagen and Maxus.
