HARI eyes 10% sales growth

MANILA, Philippines - The official local distributor of South Korea’s Hyundai vehicles is aiming for a 10-percent growth in sales this year as it launches new vehicle models and expands its dealership network.

“We are looking at a 10-percent growth (in sales) for this year,” Hyundai Asia Resources Inc.’s president and chief executive officer Fe Perez-Agudo said in a press conference.

HARI sold 22,033 units in 2013.

Agudo said higher sales this year will be supported by the new vehicle model introductions.

On Friday, HARI launched the new Grand Santa Fe which is powered by a 2.2-liter CRDi (common rail direct injection) VGT (variable geometry turbocharger) diesel engine.

Aside from the Grand Santa Fe, HARI will introduce other Hyundai vehicles such as the new Starex, I10 and Accent hatchback.

Agudo said HARI is also banking on the expansion of its dealership network to support higher sales this year.

On Friday, the firm formally opened a new dealership located along Ninoy Aquino Ave. in Parañaque City, which complies with Hyundai’s quality standards and provides state-of-the-art facilities.

HARI has Buhay Party List Representative Irwin Tieng and actor Dingdong Dantes as partners for the new dealership.

“Our target is to sell 70 units per month (from the new dealership),” Dantes said. 

Agudo said HARI intends to open two to three more dealerships to bring the total network to 46 by the end of the year.

The new dealerships will be located in Marilao in Bulacan and Cabanatuan in Nueva Ecija.

In January, HARI sold 2,500 units, higher than the 1,992 units sold in the same month last year.

Agudo said the firm is confident its positive sales performance in January will continue in the coming months as the supply of Hyundai vehicles has stabilized.