ISO-certified UAAGI added last Monday a new brand, BAIC, to its growing portfolio of global auto brands. The rapidly diversifying automotive distributor will be bringing in BAIC’s formidable lineup of boldly styled SUVs and crossovers, which are the fastest growing segments in the Philippines today.
The unveiling of the BAIC range was held at the sprawling grounds of the Palacio de Memoria along Roxas Blvd. in Paranaque City.
Founded in 1958, BAIC, which stands for Beijing Automotive Group Co., Ltd., is one of the top five automobile manufacturing groups in China. BAIC vehicles are sold in over 50 countries with a cumulative 34 million units sold since it began operations.
Setting BAIC apart from the burgeoning number of new automotive brands in the Philippines are its true 4×4 SUV models with genuine off-road capabilities and strong yet fuel-efficient diesel engines. These attributes will surely appeal to executives and entrepreneurs who live active lifestyles and who want and need large, spacious, high-riding diesel-powered SUVs for out of town trips. Millennials and Gen Zs will gravitate towards BAIC’s lineup of stylish and equally capable crossovers.
The lineup of BAIC models that will mark its introduction to the Philippine market will be composed of an all-SUV-and-crossover range. These are the Jeep Wrangler-like B40 (P2,400,000), the Land Cruiser/Patrol-inspired B60 (P3,200,000), and the Mercedes G-Class-looking B80 (P4,500,000), which are all body-on-frame true SUVs; and the X55 (P1,400,000) and X7 (P1,700,000) monocoque-bodied crossovers.
The B40 and B60 are turbo-diesel-powered while the B80, X55 and X7 are all petrol-powered (twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 for the B80).
Spearheading BAIC Philippines are UAAGI Managing Director Froilan Dytianquin, Chief Marketing Executive Lyn Buena, and BAIC Brand Head and General Manager Christopher David Yu, under the helm of the company’s chairman, Rommel Sytin.
Each BAIC model comes with a comprehensive warranty lasting 5 years or 150,000 km (whichever comes first), providing reliable coverage and support throughout the customers’ ownership experience. Additionally, BAIC is poised to bring in even more SUV models later this year.
UAAGI is the group behind the Chinese commercial vehicle brand Foton and more recently, Chery and Lynk & Co. UAAGI steered Foton to a first-for-a-Chinese brand Top 10 position in total Philippine vehicle sales — overtaking more established brands in the process.
“We are proud to reveal our lineup of the world-class BAIC models and are confident that the Philippine market will appreciate the standout features and design of these first-rate SUVs and crossovers,” chairman Sytin said.
“We are confident that BAIC vehicles, with their cutting-edge technology and exceptional quality, will resonate deeply with Filipino drivers. And we are excited to introduce BAIC Philippines and its full range of robust, modern, and rugged SUV options today, in anticipation of their debut next month at the 2024 Manila International Auto Show. We can’t wait for Filipinos to experience the features and capabilities of these exceptional SUVs firsthand,” remarked Froilan Dytianquin, Group Managing Director.
All BAIC models are made in the company’s world-class state-of-the-art fully robotized plants in Shunyi, Beijing. Contemporary BAIC models have modern styling, comfort, convenience and safety features, while the higher end models boast upscale features like huge touchscreen displays, automatic power tailgates, automatic LED headlamps, cruise control, Smart Key Entry System, power-adjustable seats, LCD instrument panel, panoramic sunroof, leather seats, 20” alloy wheels, among many others. For safety and performance, higher BAIC models feature multiple airbags as well as a full suite of advanced electronic driver-assist systems and sophisticated four-wheel drive systems.
The grand public launch for BAIC Philippines will be at the Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) on April 4-7.
The BAIC dealership and service network will be announced soon. For more info, visit BAIC Philippines’ Facebook and Instagram pages or its website, www.baic.ph.
Beijing Automotive Industry Corp. (BAIC) is a renowned global automotive brand from China ,established in 1958. In the Philippines, BAIC is under the distributorship of United Asia Automotive Group, Inc. (UAAGI). With UAAGI’s expertise, BAIC Philippines offers an innovation-driven lineup of premium hardcore SUVs and modern crossovers, catering to the evolving needs and preferences of Filipino car enthusiasts.