Volkswagen launches in Phl

MANILA, Philippines - Last Friday, Volkswagen, the iconic car brand that popularized the concept of a ‘people’s car,’ formally celebrated its return to the Philippines in a grand launch held at the Ayala Tower One and Exchange Plaza in Makati. The event highlighted the brand’s rich heritage and timeliness to reenter the local market through a program that showcased an array of VW vehicles onstage in a celebration entitled ‘The Time is Now.’

Automobile Center Enterprises Inc. (ACEI), a subsidiary of the Ayala Automotive Holdings Corporation, is now the official importer and distributor of Volkswagen passenger cars in the country.

“The time to come back to the Philippines is now,” said Volkswagen AG Executive Vice President and President of Commercial Operations of Greater China and ASEAN, Weiming Soh, who flew in to the country to attend the big launch. “We are very excited to reconnect with the Filipino market, knowing how well-loved Volkswagen is in the Philippines,” he maintained.

Soh also explained how the ASEAN market, which includes the emerging market in the Philippines, is becoming the next frontier of VW in the Asia Pacific region. The VW Group is in fact, now the largest European automotive manufacturer, featuring 12 brands such as: Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Audi, SEAT, Å KODA, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Porsche, Ducati, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Scania and MAN.

Gracing the event was Ayala Corporation President and COO, Fernando Zobel de Ayala, who expressed “Ayala Automotive Holdings Corporation is honored to be instrumental in bringing back an icon to the Filipino people. A heritage brand, Volkswagen is indeed the original people’s car; and as a company that cares deeply about the Filipinos, that is a personal pride for us,” he added.

For its initial product offerings, Volkswagen, through ACEI, will be bringing in an all-diesel lineup of vehicles: the Jetta, Tiguan, Touareg, Touran and of course, the iconic Beetle. The Beetle however, is expected to arrive a little later—sometime in the first quarter of 2014. Meanwhile, the Golf subcompact hatchback, Passat executive sedan, Beetle Cabriolet, 21st century Beetle and Scirocco R sport compact hatchback were among the units put on display in Greenbelt Park over the weekend as part of the brand’s elaborate 2-day People’s Car exhibit for public viewing.

Furthermore, Volkswagen’s Bonifacio Global City showroom is also now open, and already accepting reservations from customers. Vehicle deliveries however, are slated to be within the next three months.

The VW Jetta Trendline 2.0 TDI 5MT will be sold at P1,295,000; the  VW Touran Comfort Line 2.0 TDI DSG at P1,775,000; VW Tiguan Trendline 2.0 TDI 6AT at P2,109,000; and the VW Touareg 3.0 TDI V6 8AT at P4,290,000