Volkswagen trucks into the PHL
MACC marks a milestone by bringing in a German giant
By Kap Maceda Aguila
WITH MORE than three decades of experience in the truck business, MAN Automotive Concessionaires Corp. (or MACC) is stepping up its presence in the commercial vehicle segment as it becomes the official distributor and service provider of Volkswagen (VW) Truck and Bus.
Based in Brazil, VW Truck and Bus is a 40-year-old operation that features “German technology and reliability.” In a release, MACC said that “VW Truck and Bus added some extra key components to the combination: flexibility and creativity.”
VW Truck and Bus has exported more than 160,000 vehicles to some 30 countries in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and now Asia. It is seen as a vote of confidence not only for MACC but the Philippines itself that the company is choosing to do business here.
During a virtual presser to announce the partnership, MACC and VW Truck and Bus officials said that they see a good fit in the portfolio of products and Philippine logistical requirements vis-à-vis road conditions. The deal had been two years in the making, and now the Philippines will be seen as the VW Trucks and Buses gateway into Asia. MACC Associate Director Francis Lu said that the company has already been known for “high quality, reliable, and cost-effective” products and will now boast a “partnership with one of the most recognizable brands in the industry.”
Meanwhile, VW Truck and Bus said it “has been constantly evolving during the years, using state-of-the-art technology, and the innovative and collaborative concept of Modular Consortium. This enables us to produce a complete line of vehicles, tailor-made to the needs of the customer from light to heavy trucks and buses, capable of meeting the most varied applications and requirements of our markets.”
For MACC, securing a deal with VW Truck and Bus adds Category 3 and 4 products to its existing portfolio of Category 5 trucks. “We are bringing in various models in different weight classes ranging from nine tons to 31 tons — in 4×2, 4×4, 6×4, 8×2 and 8×4 executions. These are powered by popular Cummins and MAN engines with efficient common rail fuel management systems. They are Euro 5-compliant with Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) and Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) emission technology. They will come in six-speed, nine-speed and 16-speed transmissions.” The vehicles will be Euro 5-compliant.
The trucks, added MACC, were conceived with comfort and safety being top-of-mind considerations. The VW vehicles will get power door locks, power windows and side mirrors, ergonomic seating, and modern-looking cab.
Expected applications and forms will be closed vans, wing-vans, refrigerated vans, drop-sides, flat beds, people transport, food and beverage transport, boom trucks, tipper trucks, cement mixers, and even special-purpose vehicles. Leandro Pereira of VW Truck and Bus said he is looking forward to establishing the brand here and once volume allows it, even perform assembly. They are also taking a keen look at how the government rolls out its public utility vehicle modernization program and possibly making a play there.
Averred MACC Managing Director Ferdie Lu: “This is a real milestone not only in the history of MACC but the Philippines. This range of products will broaden our ability to service the needs of clients. This has taken some time, and without the tireless support of the VW team in Brazil, we could have not achieved this.”
