Ang in talks with Alvarez for BMW partnership

MANILA, Philippines - Tycoon Ramon Ang, a known car enthusiast, and Palawan Governor and businessman Jose “Pepito” Alvarez are in talks for a partnership involving the BMW brand in the Philippines currently distributed by Alvarez through Asian Carmakers Corp.

Industry sources told The Star that Ang and San Miguel Corp.(SMC) chairman Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco want to partner with Alvarez in the BMW business in a deal that is expected to be worth at least P1 billion.

The 72-year old Alvarez would neither confirm nor deny that a deal has already been sealed.

“No comment,” he said yesterday.

Another source said Alvarez wants Ang as chairman of Asian Carmakers Corp. Ang, president and chief operating officer of SMC, reportedly wants it as a personal business.

“It could be a partnership involving Ang, BMW and Alvarez,” said a source.

Negotiations have been ongoing since at least two months ago, but sources from both camps have been mum on the matter.

Ang, a mechanical engineering graduate from the Far Eastern University, knows cars like the back of his hand.  As a young man, he is known to have extensive knowledge of cars and has been tinkering with car engines early on. Back in the late ’70s, he was also known to be importing high-end cars and made money through buy and sell of cars.

It was his passion for cars that led him to Cojuangco whom he met through Cojuangco’s eldest son Mark. Both the elder Cojuangco and Ang share a common love for restoring vintage cars and collecting luxury vehicles. Ang also tinkered with Cojuangco’s vehicles and it’s no secret that he became ECJ’s – as Danding is commonly known – best auto mechanic.

Ang is known to have a collection of BMWs aside from other vehicles.

His eldest son Paul said that despite his busy schedule, his father still manages to drive his cars even for just one round.

“Isang ikot lang, masaya na yun,” the younger Ang, president of Eagle Cement Corp. told The Star in jest.

Alvarez, meanwhile, divides his time between his gubernatorial duties in Palawan and his business. He is also the chairman of Columbian Autocar Corp., the assembler and distributor of Kia vehicles in the Philippines.

In 2009, he obtained control of Asian Carmakers Corp. from the BMW Group of Germany. Prior to that BMW cars were distributed in the Philippines through BMW Philippines, owned 70 percent by the BMW Group of Germany and 30 percent by Asian Carmakers. In all, Alvarez and BMW have been partners in the Philippines for 24 years.

The Alvarez Group is considered one of the strongest player when it comes to the luxury vehicles industry, and was tagged responsible for making BMW the leading premium automobile brand in the Philippines, according to Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI).

The company has the widest dealership network in the luxury vehicle segment – with eight dealers working closely under the ACC helm. These dealers are: Autoallee BMW in Eton Centris (EDSA), Autohaus BMW in Quezon City, Autozentrum BMW in Alabang, Prestige Cars in Makati, Premier Cars BMW in Pampanga, Autobahn BMW in Bacolod, Autowelt BMW in Cebu, and Premium Motoren BMW in Cagayan de Oro.