United Asia Automotive Group, Inc. or UAAGI, the official Philippine distributor of FOTON – now the world’s number one manufacturer of commercial vehicles – opened the doors of the FOTON Big Show 2014: Empower Your Business at the World Trade Center in Pasay City, to much fanfare at 10AM on October 17, 2014. Coinciding with FOTON’s first-ever Dealer Conference and Gala Night held outside China at nearby Sofitel, FOTON’s Big Show guests were not limited to local VIPs, but also officers of FOTON distributors from other countries. In terms of foreign representation, this was FOTON Philippines’ biggest – and most important – Big Show to date.
Guest of Honor Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero cut the ribbon along with Mr. Wang Xiang Yin, FOTON International President and FOTON Motor Group Executive Vice President. Hosts Cito Beltran and Shanda Lim Uy welcomed the guests and introduced UAAGI President Rommel Sytin, who delivered the opening remarks. Shortly after Mr. Sytin’s speech, Pilipinas Got Talent winners El Gamma Penumbra performed their silhouette-dance routine now used in the country’s official tourism video, which had the captive audience applauding and gasping in amazement; their ability to turn human shadows into shapes of natural national wonders; vehicles, and even Jose Rizal was mesmerizing. But they were merely a front act for an even bigger surprise behind the covered stage flanks.
Mr. Sytin then proceeded to unveil not one, not two, but six new FOTON vehicles to the VIPs, dealers and members of the motoring press; these were the FOTON Midi compact pickup truck, View TransVan, Tornado C (for Cummins) 3.5 and 4.5 variants, the ETX-GTL 6×4 Tractorhead and Tornado K dropside truck. Of these vehicles, the ones certain to cause a stir in the business community are the Tornado C 3.5 and 4.5 variants, as they are now equipped the proven Cummins ISF 3.8 liter CRDI turbodiesel engine, from the world number one manufacturer of diesel engines. Further strengthening the FOTON-Cummins partnership is the integration of an 11.8 liter ISG Cummins CRDI engine on the all-new FOTON ETX GTL 6×4 truck, making this reliable heavy-duty truck from FOTON more economical, dependable and reliable than ever!
Following the vehicles’ launch was a quick speech by Mr. Wang, acknowledging the growth and role FOTON Philippines has contributed in their worldwide sales. Longtime FOTON friend Sen. Chiz Escudero then gave his keynote address, saying that when he was a guest at the inauguration of the first FOTON showroom seven years ago, he already knew that FOTON would achieve the success it now enjoys throughout the Philippines. Coming from someone who has known the FOTON brand since its infancy in the country, Sen. Escudero’s words were very encouraging, heartfelt and sincere.
After the morning formalities, guests were free to roam the hall, which had been ingeniously laid out as a four-lane highway with a center island and pocket “garden”, where another exciting variant of the View Traveller – the View Traveller Luxe – was on display. Customized locally to suit Philippine climate and client preferences, the FOTON View Traveller Luxe is a plush, extremely comfortable and yet discreetly practical alternative to high-priced offerings from their Japanese and Korean competitors.
A few minutes before 1PM, the public-address system announced that the heavy-equipment show would start shortly, and guests headed over to the front driveway to witness the amazing Dancing Wheel-Loader and Excavator Show! With a specially-trained operator flown from China just for this demonstration, this earth moving machine tipped itself on its front wheels and started to hop forward and backward like an enormous robotic rabbit, while the operator ‘wagged’ the loader’s rear section left and right like a tail; shrugging its rear tires like marching legs. Onlookers were in disbelief at the sight which could have been taken straight out of a Transformers movie, except no special effects were used; just pure talent and skill. Right after, two excavators executed perfectly synchronized movements, mimicking an industrial ballet. One of them even pressed its bucket into the soil and, by alternating the movement of its two steel tracks, “drifted” around the stationary bucket the way a compass traces a circle around a fixed point. If children enjoy playing with toy tractors, these heavy-equipment operators were certainly enjoying playing with their real tractors!
Back inside, the hall filled up with visitors from all demographics and industries. Entire families came to avail of test-drives for the View Traveller. Representatives of different commercial and industrial companies showed up, too, each with their respective agenda. Major Banks and Financial Institutions set up booths inside the hall to accommodate on-site vehicle-loan applications.
All in all, FOTON’s Big Show 2014 is a truly big show – offering big deals to anyone interested in acquiring a FOTON vehicle, and even bigger smiles faces of everyone who walked out, whether with a new vehicle, or simply an amazing overall experience.
To know more about FOTON Vehicles you can visit any of its 22 dealerships around the Philippines or call 0999-9999998 you can also visit their website at www.foton.com.ph.