In his visit to the headquarters of Chongqing Lifan Group in Chongqing, People’s Republic of China, recently, Mr. Ramos said he was impressed with the quality and workmanship of Lifan motorcycles, which prompted him to invite the company to put up a plant in the Philippines.
"I believe Lifan will do better and better in the Philippine market. I suggest that Lifan should invest in the Philippines when the time is ripe," he was quoted as saying.
Mr. Ramos was in China for the Chongqing Forum, a 3-day event that gathered past and present leaders to discuss the emerging trends and opportunities in China and the rest of the world.
Lifan is one of the success stories of Chongqing, China’s fourth largest municipality situated in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. Founded in 1992 by its chairman, Mr. Yin Mingshan, Lifan started with only nine workers. Its vision is to become a global brand, with most of its products exported abroad. Over the past 12 years, Lifan has realized this dream. It is not only exporting to over 90 countries, it has also become China’s number one maker of motorcycles, small engines, farm equipment and, soon, automobiles.
At present, Lifan makes some 2.5 million motorcycle engines and over 1 million motorcycles annually, employing more than 4,000 people.
Despite the searing summer heat in Chongqing, Mr. Ramos toured Lifan’s sprawling showroom, engine factory and the research and development center where Lifan’s first automobile is being assembled. The automobile — a small car with huge potentials — will be launched in China later this year.
Mr. Ramos even posed gamely on board a red all-terrain vehicle and informally requested Lifan CEO Mr. Yang Zhou to donate farm equipment to Dagupan City, whose mayor accompanied him in his visit. The Lifan top brass readily agreed to the request.
Lifan is represented in the Philippines by Mitsukoshi Motors and its nationwide network of dealers. Mr. Wilson Yang, Lifan’s representative to the Philippines, said Lifan and Mitsukoshi are planning to launch more innovative motorcycle models in the coming months to meet the growing demand.
Motorcycle sales in the Philippines are growing by as much as 20 percent every year, with close to 300,000 units sold last year. Experts say that with gasoline prices and the cost of acquiring and maintaining four-wheeled vehicles steadily going up, more and more people will be drawn to motorcycles, especially small scooters and mopeds.
"Lifan is prepared for this eventuality. We have a long lineup of exciting models that we will be launching soon," said Mr. Yang.