Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI), the official distributor of Hyundai vehicles in the Philippines is the first local automaker to publicly announce its safety guidelines for dealers and service centers in areas covered by the General Community Quarantine (GCQ).

With automotive dealers and service centers allowed to re-open under GCQ, HARI will be implementing what they term, Guidelines for Protection and Safety (GPS)—a wide-ranging set of health and safety guidelines in what could be “the new normal.” Their policies cover everything from vehicle importation, assembly, office operations, vehicle delivery to dealerships, showroom operations, sales operations, after-sales, customer relations, test drives, and unit release.

The Hyundai GPS guidelines are all based on global standards, risk assessment, and protocols set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

“It will not be easy,” affirmed HARI President and CEO Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo. “Even if the ECQ is lifted or modified, we do not expect to return to ‘business as usual.’ The great lock down has radically changed consumer behavior but we are ready for the next normal in auto. We are in the year of resilience and as a leading mobility provider, we are taking the needed steps to ensure the well-being of our customers and employees inside and outside our dealerships.”

With non-essential travel still limited even under GCQ, Hyundai is beefing up its online channels—Hyundai C.A.R.E.S. for both sales and aftersales services. Aside from e-mail and Facebook Messenger, HARI will also roll out more virtual tools to boost “no-contact” transactions and engagement.

Meanwhile, at dealerships, Hyundai GPS measures include: social distancing of at least one meter apart for both customers and employees; dealership front liners wearing proper PPE gear; installation of sanitation booths equipped with thermal scanners and sanitizing material for incoming customers and employees; posting of safety reminders and availability of antibacterial sprays in all key areas--showroom, service bays, customer lounges, and toilets; provision of surgical masks, alcohol and hand sanitizers to customers.

In addition, HARI will disinfect all test drive vehicles, perform regular sanitation of dealerships and parts warehouse, and will offer the option to customers to fumigate their new or serviced vehicles.

Finally, as part of Hyundai GPS, HARI has gone on board Project ARK (Antibody Rapid Test Kits), a private sector-led initiative that will make the FDA-approved rapid test kits available at the community level. HARI is one of the first local auto firms that signed up for Project ARK and has initially committed to 3,000 test kits for its employees and LGU beneficiaries.