Chery Cars? What the heck are Chery Cars?

Shouldn't it be "Cherry" cars? No, assures a friend. Yes, I've heard about these Chery Cars from China and how they've managed to enter the Philippine market with the aim of giving other car manufacturers, both Japanese and European, a run for their money.

Actually, this posting is a little late in coming. Chery Cars have been with us for almost a year, although I have yet to feel their presence in the Southern Philippines. This may change soon as this news article implies:

Chinese car maker to set up a plant in the Philippines

Chinese car maker Chery Automobile Co. Ltd. is studying the feasibility of setting up an assembly plant and a training center in the Philippines to boost its after-sales support network.

Gary Tung, Chery International sales manager for the Asia-Pacific and South Africa region, said the company has started its research and feasibility study on the assembly plant.

Jonas Silva, marketing and after-sales service manager of Iseway Motor Philippines Inc., exclusive distributor of Chery cars in the country, said although there was "nothing concrete yet," Chery Cars "might open" the assembly plant by next year.

"It's just a matter of us Iseway sitting down with the mother company," Silva said.

Silva said the car maker will also open the Chery Asia Pacific Training Center in Makati, which will offer training to dealers and sub-dealers not only in the Philippines but also to those in Asia Pacific.

The first training session at the training center is slated next month. It will cover technical, marketing and sales training patterned after Chery's international training curriculum.

At present, Chery has 12 active dealers nationwide. Four more dealerships will be established in different parts of the country by the end of this month.

Interested in Chery Cars? Call Iseway Motor Philippines at (632) 896-2222 local 102 or visit its showroom at 349 Oppen Building, Senator Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City, Philippines.