Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI), the sole distributorship of Hyundai vehicles in the Philippines, hosted the 2018 Hyundai Global Commercial Vehicle (CV) Service Conference last April 24 and 25 at the Solaire Resort and Casino. The Conference, with the theme “Weaving New Frontiers for Growth in the Commercial Vehicle Business,” is an annual gathering of After Sales leaders from Hyundai Motor Company’s (HMC) global CV distributor network.

Representatives from 36 countries gathered in Manila to discuss their experiences and best practices in commercial vehicle service and to mold long-term service strategy for Hyundai. 2018 marks the first time the conference was held in the Philippines.

In her opening remarks, HARI President and CEO Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo invited participants to make the most of the opportunities at the conference to synergize and identify key growth opportunities for the CV business. Comparing HMC’s diverse global distributor network to a richly woven tapestry, she said, “I believe that our shared knowledge and best practices can help us weave new frontiers for the growth of commercial vehicles globally and regionally.”

Ms. Agudo noted that strong ASEAN economies increasingly demand reliable, versatile, and affordable mobility solutions in the manufacturing, transport, and construction sectors. She said, “This trend is especially true for countries, like the Philippines, that enjoy stable and solid macroeconomic fundamentals and which maintain ambitious infrastructure development programs.”

The conference’s staging in the Philippines is set against an expanding commercial vehicle business in the region, with CV sales as a share of total vehicle sales in the ASEAN-5 economies rising from 2.7 to 3.1 percent between 2011 and 2017.

Mr. Dong Keun Kwon, HMC General Manager for After Sales, also expressed an optimistic outlook for Hyundai CV. He noted that HMC is looking to boost CV global market share by 2025, moving Hyundai from 13th to 8th rank in CV market sales worldwide.

To accomplish this, Mr. Kwon emphasized that after sales service plays a big role. “By providing better services to customers, [we encourage customers] to purchase our brand again and introduce our brand to others. Good service means a good brand experience,” he punctuated.

The conference featured workshops and breakout discussions on topics ranging from the Hyundai service agenda to parts operation strategy. Delegates also toured Hyundai Philippines’ flagship facility and training center, the Hyundai Logistics Center (HLC) in Calamba, Laguna.

Mr. Kwon said, “On behalf of Hyundai Motor Company, I thank HARI for hosting this successful event. HMC and HARI have been partners in the CV business since 2016, and this year’s conference only emphasizes that this partnership will continue to strengthen and offer more value-adding services to satisfy increasing demand for commercial vehicles in the Philippines and around the world.”