Of car kings and car lovers

The car has become the carapace, the protective and aggressive shell, of urban and suburban man. — Marshall McLuhan

The car has become a secular sanctuary for the individual, his shrine to the self, his mobile Walden Pond.  — Edward McDonagh

At the Young Market Masters Awards reception, Sterling Paper Group CEO Henry Lim Bon Liong told me that the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII), of which he is vice president, is an apolitical business and civic group, and that their top officials were surprised at the mysterious, press-release type of synchronized news reports claiming that their group had made a public comment on the impeachment trial. FFCCCII’s honorary chairman is Lucio Tan and their president is Tan Ching. Their secretary-general Dr. Fernando Gan gave this statement on Feb. 6:

“The Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. is surprised at the news reports appearing in some dailies today that an official of FFCCCII cautioned the impeachment court regarding a request of the prosecution panel to subpoena bank records of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

“FFCCCII categorically denies having made any statement relating to the ongoing impeachment trial. The FFCCCII has given its full trust and confidence in the wisdom and fairness of the Senate as an impeachment court. Thus, FFCCCII has not made any comment on the ongoing proceeding.”

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I recently met Philippine STAR reader, chemical engineering No. 2 board topnotcher, Mini Cooper/ Gilera/ Vespa/ Piaggio Philippine distributor and multi-brand car dealer Willy Tee Ten, and I asked him to discuss the state of the local car industry. He is a self-made entrepreneur with 14 successful car dealerships. His forecast for Philippine car sales in 2012? “I think it’s going to be flat, so matira ang matibay (the tough will survive). Those who innovate, service customers well and who work hard will continue to excel.”

The Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. said Philippine vehicle sales in 2011 went down four percent to 141,616 units, compared to 147,488 units sold in 2010. Only about five percent of the Philippine population owns cars, so Tee Ten’s guesstimate is there are five million cars on Philippine roads today. 

Here are some of Tee Ten’s views on cars, top car owners and his unbiased assessments of his competitors among the top car distributors:

PHILIPPINE STAR:     Is there a No. 1 favorite car brand for the Philippine rich, like P-Noy, who reportedly likes Porsche and BMW?

WILLY TEE TEN: P-Noy is no longer using Porsche and BMW now. In general, most rich people do not have car-brand loyalty.

Is it true that San Miguel CEO Ramon Ang started out as a car mechanic to Danding Cojuangco?

Honestly, I don’t think so, but he is a car enthusiast and one who knows a lot about cars. He has more than 100 cars, all collectors’ items or limited editions.

Manny Pacquiao reportedly owns a Maserati and bought a yacht; Marian Rivera last Christmas gifted her boyfriend and GMA 7 co-star Dingdong Dantes with an Italian-brand Ducati motorcycle. Vehicles seem to be an ideal gift for the wealthy.

Yes, actor Derek Ramsay gifted his girlfriend Angelica Panganiban with a yellow-colored Mini Cooper. Pacquiao also gave his wife Jinkee a Nissan Murano SUV before as a gift.

By the way, are you also the dealer of the BMW which former showbiz celebrity David Bunevacz gifted to his wife Jessica Rodriguez, one cause of their quarrel with business partners at the Beverly Hills 6750 beauty center?

Yes, David bought a BMW X5 for P5 million in 2006, but I really had no idea if he used his own money or the funds of their company. Actually, he paid me a 20-percent down payment and the balance was financed by a bank loan.

Who are the biggest car manufacturers or dealers in the Philippines today?

Toyota, led by Metrobank Group’s George S.K. Ty, is still No. 1, then No. 2 is the Japanese Mitsubishi, then No. 3 is Hyundai, whose Philippine distributor is Richard Lee (who also distributes Chevrolet). No. 4 is Honda, No. 5 is Isuzu.

Is Lee also head of Universal Motors, which distributes Nissan?

That’s his relative, Wayne Lee of Universal Motors, which is one of the two Philippine distributors of Nissan vehicles. The other Nissan distributor is Yulon Motors of Taiwan, based in Santa Rosa, Laguna.

Are China-made cars making headway locally?

They’re starting to sell here, like Foton cars distributed by the Sytin family, who are also the owners of Subic Auctioneers.

Why is it I heard that SM boss Henry Sy, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, as well as showbiz celebrities like Kris Aquino, Anne Curtis, Toni Gonzaga, Kim Chiu and others prefer to use the Ford E150?

It is convenient. It is easier to convert and customize according to the owners’ needs. Some have added a bed inside, LCD TV, even a toilet or portalet, plus a dressing room — it can become like a mobile home for very busy people.

What about the high-end car market? Are the biggest sellers Robert Coyiuto of PGA Cars’ Porsche/Audi brands or Felix Ang of CATS Motors’ Mercedes Benz?

Neither Coyiuto nor Felix Ang; I think it’s still BMW in terms of volume. By the way, I’m no longer a BMW dealer since 2008. In the luxury cars market, No. 1 in volume is Pepito Alvarez of BMW, followed by Felix Ang of Mercedes-Benz. Ang also distributes Chrysler and Mazda. Of course, Robert Coyiuto Jr. is doing well with his brands Porsche, Audi and Lamborghini, too. Also Wellington Soong of Jaguar and Rover. There are other brands like Volvo.

Any advice to car buyers?

With low bank interest rates at only seven or eight percent per annum, it is still better to buy cars using financing, so entrepreneurs and professionals can use their money for other things like their business, investments, etc. Capital is important for entrepreneurs.

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