Toyota PH cites dealers for role in another record-setting year
Like the past year, 2021 remains a challenging one. People still need to protect themselves from COVID-19 like wearing face masks and face shields, maintaining physical distance, and avoiding big gatherings, thus making live events more difficult to pull off.
But for Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP), bagging the Triple Crown amid a trying year is one that should be celebrated.
Such achievement—topping the passenger, commercial, and total vehicle sales for a 19th consecutive year—is no mean feat considering last year, factories and dealerships had to stop operations for several days. Car buyers were stuck at home for much longer, sending auto sales into a free fall.
With TMP pushing ahead with its annual Dealer Convention, some modifications had to be made to the Gala Awards for Outstanding Dealers. To maintain a sliver of award show normalcy during this uncertain time, only select Toyota officials, key dealer principals, top affiliates and partners were physically present at the Grand Ballroom of Grand Hyatt Manila in Taguig City. The rest of the representatives of the 71-strong Toyota dealership network from all over the country watched the ceremony and even accepted their awards through a live online stream.
“This pandemic has really tested our spirits and pushed our limits. Yet, we were able to achieve a record-setting 41.3 percent market share last year,” said TMP Chairman Alfred V. Ty during his opening remarks at the preceding dealer plenary.
Undisputed market leader
Despite the eruption of Taal Volcano on Jan. 12, 2020, the COVID-19 outbreak that forced the government to lock down the National Capital Region and surrounding provinces in mid-March, and another stricter Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine re-imposed for two weeks in August—cutting off all economic activity including the operations of the auto industry—Toyota remained the industry’s undisputed market leader by scoring a six-digit sales total of 100,019 by the end of 2020.
He even expressed his appreciation for Team Toyota Philippines for assuming its role in economic rebuilding and enabling Filipinos to move again and move forward from the pandemic.
Awardees
By the end of the Gala Awards night, the following dealers received major awards for exemplary performance in dealer operations, sales, customer service, and value chain:Toyota Bataan Inc. in the Small Business Division; Toyota Marilao Bulacan Inc. in the Medium Business Division; and Toyota Otis Inc. The Large Business Division topped the Value Chain Award that is given to dealers that have passed the criteria set both by Toyota Insure and Toyota Financial Services and got the highest VCEP score per business division.
Don Juan Miguel ‘Cosco’ Oben, president of Oben Group that runs Toyota Marilao Bulacan and Toyota Otis said he is truly grateful for all the recognition our group received during this year’s gala awards. “These are true testaments of our team’s hard work and resilience during very challenging times. I am humbled having witnessed our team member’s strong embodiment of our core values that paved the way in achieving a positive culture in our dealerships.”
Oben also thanked its customers who have been very loyal to its dealerships. “We will work harder to provide more happiness to your lives. Due recognition to our Chairman and my father, Atty. Rey Oben for his strong support as his rich experience has helped guide our decision making. And finally, to my wife Mago who has been my source of strength and encouragement, and who has been very patient with me as I try and juggle the many activities I have across our network of dealerships during this difficult time.”
Additionally, Oben Group’s Toyota Marilao, Bulacan along with another dealership, Toyota Nueva Ecija were also recipients of the President’s Customer Satisfaction (CS ) Cup of Excellence, an award given to the dealer who has achieved consistent excellence in customer satisfaction and achieved all their CS targets for 2020.
For the President’s Award of Excellence, a recognition given to the dealer who has achieved overall excellence in all aspects of dealer operations and has the highest rating among all dealers in their respective divisions, Toyota Tarlac topped the Small Business Division; Toyota Marilao Bulacan Inc. in the Medium Business Division; while Toyota San Fernando, Pampanga in the Large Business Division.
Jose “Doyong” Tan Jr. who owns the multi-awarded Toyota Tarlac and Toyota San Fernando, Pampanga said his team wasn’t expecting the awarding night considering the pandemic. “But despite the pandemic, we were very happy and blessed that we won several awards namely: Champion in the Large Business Division, Champion in the Small Business Division, 1st and 2nd runner up in the Small Business Division, and President’s Cup of CS Excellence. By winning these awards, it solidifies the hard work, dedication, loyalty, and honesty of my team members. They excelled and continued to challenge themselves even during challenging times and for that, I’m very grateful to them. They truly embraced our group’s culture of always being ‘driven to serve our customer better’.”
Indeed, as Ty explained, pushing through with the Gala Awards night, only showed TMP intention to normalize safe and responsible ways to celebrate the company’s milestones and combined achievements with its dealership network. “As the country and the industry continuously strives towards recovery together, TMP is looking forward to further realizing our vision of mobility and empowering people to move again.”
