Chinese carmaker Jetour officially arrived in the Philippines on March 15, 2023.
A subsidiary of Chery Holding Group, the brand promises to offer upscale and aggressively priced models that are targeted at younger buyers, including those with families.
Jetour Auto Philippines’ initial 2023 lineup includes:
- Jetour Ice Cream EV – ₱699,000
- Jetour Dashing – ₱1,329,000
- Jetour X70 – ₱1,099,000 to ₱1,499,000
But one thing that really startled the crowd during the media preview event was the brand’s unprecedented six-year/unlimited-mileage warranty, along with a 10-year engine warranty.
We know what’s wrong
Jetour Auto Philippines executives include president Yves Licup (third from left) and COO Michael Goho (fifth from left). PHOTO BY VJ BACUNGAN.
Jetour Auto Philippines president Yves Licup said the brand is “very confident” to offer this type of warranty because of the quality of the vehicles.
“My team and I can, I think, do better compared sa [to] other distributors,” he said. “Nakita na namin yung mali [we’ve already seen the mistakes], so I think we can change this.”
Many buyers of Chinese car brands have told AutoFun Philippines about issues with replacement parts, some of which take up to six months to fix.
You read that right. All Jetours will get a 6-year/unlimited-mileage warranty. PHOTO BY VJ BACUNGAN.
Jetour Auto Philippines chief operating officer Michael Goho, meanwhile, said the warranty helps give an “extra edge” to the brand.
“We’re Gateway, so we handle 20 brands nationwide,” he said, referring to his management position in the Gateway Group, the largest car dealer network in Cebu.
“We’re able to assess and compare problems,” Goho added. “Of course, we prioritize parts supply and stable inventory. So we wanted to make sure before venturing into this, in place ‘yan [these are in place].”
Out for blood
The other models in the local Jetour lineup are the X70 and the top-spec X70 Plus seven-seater crossovers. PHOTO BY VJ BACUNGAN.
Goho also said Jetour is targeting specific popular models in the Philippines, hence its aggressive pricing and equipment strategy.
“Of course, if we do a new brand, we want it to succeed kasi we’re very familiar with previous China brand attempts,” he said. “Maraming nag-fail [many failed] We really want that advantage. We really want to start the brand on a high note.”
Licup said Jetour will not bring in additional models for 2023, including electric vehicles (EV), to give time to build consumer trust and confidence.
“As of now, no plans yet,” he said. “Siguro [Perhaps] we start small muna [first], so we can see how the market accepts the EV, new energy.”
What do you think of Jetour Auto Philippines’ ambitious offers? Can they deliver where other brands have failed?
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