Going Big: How Hyundai PH will change the truck and bus game

Fresh from its awarding as the 2016 Hyundai Global Distributor of the Year, HARI is preparing to make waves with its new Hyundai Trucks and Buses distribution network. With the Philippines moving toward a major infrastructure building spree, and the ongoing construction boom driven by a vibrant economy, HARI expects to capture 10-percent market share by end of 2017 with its 7 commercial vehicle dealerships across the country. 

Led by their president and CEO Ms. Fe Perez-Agudo, HARI aims to ramp up its presence in the commercial vehicle market with its recently inaugurated production facility in Santa Rosa, Laguna. It aims to produce 1,000 units of the H350 van by the end of Q1 next year; this along with its localized production the Eon compact hatchback.

So how exactly will Hyundai take on this tough market? They showed us by taking us for a trip. We go beyond the confines of Santa Rosa, Laguna and we fly out to Seoul, South Korea to what Hyundai is up to in the truck and bus industry. Welcome to the annual Truck and Bus Mega Fair.

As witnessed in this year's Truck and Bus Mega Fair, Hyundai displayed trucks of different sizes to cater to different industries and customer requirements. They also showed how their trucks and buses are made, as well as the manufacturing side of the company.

It wasn't all about their standard haulers during the Mega Fair. Also on display were several special purpose vehicles such as fire trucks, ambulances and other emergency vehicles, prepped by Hyundai.

Of course, it wasn't all about the trucks and buses. Hyundai subsidiaries such as Dymos, Everdigm, Mobis and Glovis showed different solutions in various fields in mobility. These fields included auto parts, construction, infrastructure development, advanced driving technology and global logistics.

Their bus portfolio also covers transport solutions for shuttles, city mobility and tourist coach operations. The buses also come with various customization options. Hyundai's pride as a bus producer is having been able to successfully export its Universe bus model to Japan.

Taking center stage at this year's Truck and Bus Mega Fair would be its new zero emission Elec City bus, equipped with 256kwh lithium-polymer batteries and a range of 290 kilometers set to be released by next year.

Hyundai commercial vehicles are built in their 440,000 sq-m Jeonju plant, the world’s largest facility dedicated to CV production with an annual capacity of 103,000 units. The plant was built in 1995 and has expanded since, producing light shuttle to coach bus models, and light to heavy-duty trucks.

The Jeonju factory has a high level of automation with Hyundai robots working on their commercial vehicles all throughout the assembly process. Major manufacturing processes such as stamping, engine building and parts manufacturing are done in-house as well.

Serving as the backbone of the whole operation is Hyundai Steel, the second largest EAF (electric arc furnace) steel producer in the world.

With a strong leadership, decades of business experience and a vast dealer network across the country, one can expect to see more Hyundai Trucks and Buses in years to come.