HYUNDAI Asia Resources Inc. (Hari) is investing, according to reports, a total of P1.2 billion in its newly inaugurated 10-hectare Hyundai Logistics Center (HLC) in Calamba, Laguna. And this is only the first step.
According to Hari, it plans to change the landscape of automotive-industry property development in the country through this state-of-the-art facility. In today’s ever-changing world, the clamor for a more eco-friendly work environment, which uplifts the well-being of employees and catalyzes growth in both the automotive and property-development sectors, is becoming stronger than ever. This is its answer to that call.
During an interview conducted by the BusinessMirror, Hari President and CEO Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo said: “It is high time for us to consolidate our operations, so we could streamline the process flow and become more efficient and more productive, and so we can have better quality control.”
One of Hari’s values in business is environment protection, and the HLC, in a way, is a realization of this principle.
Furthermore, HLC follows the standards of Philippine Green Building Initiative (PGBI), a group of professional development associations formed through the shared concern for the environment.
“GREEEN, with the three Es, stands for Geared for Resiliency and Energy Efficiency for the Environment,” shared Architect Mel Punsalan, vice president for technical of PGBI.
In fact, HLC received the highest-rating Kamagong, since it garnered a score of 87.5 percent.
Located along the Mount Makiling forest reserve and Tagaytay mountain ridge, the logistics center can accommodate 5,000 vehicles, equivalent to a two-month inventory for the firm. Hari has so far spent P700 million for the first phase of the HLC, which covers the stockyard warehouse, parts warehouse and a portion of the planned training academy.
The second phase, meanwhile, which would involve P500 million worth of investments, would cover a 12-story office, a car museum, a center for climate change and facilities for the training academy.
As of this writing, the first phase has already been completed, while construction of the second phase is expected to start early next year.
The facility is intended to house imported Hyundai vehicles coming in through the Batangas Port before being brought to Hari’s dealerships nationwide.
Through the facility, Hyundai cars would undergo detailing, washing and drying, as well as tests, to ensure they are in pristine condition before being sold.
Aside from the HLC reveal, Hari also introduced the Global Dealership Space Identity—the worldwide dealership standard of Hyundai, not to mention its two new latest models that will yet again change the local car spectrum: the all-new i20 Cross Sport and the all-new Tucson.
The i20 Cross Sport will be available in June, while the new Tucson will go on sale in August. “We are expecting to sell about 500 units per month for the i20 Cross Sport, while we see a 300- to 400-unit-per-month sale for the return of the king Tucson,” Agudo said. Agudo also disclosed that total Hari sales last year reached 23,019 units.
With the company accounting for 85 percent to 90 percent of the Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors Inc.’s (Avid) sales, Agudo said the group’s sales are expected to rise by 5 percent this year, from last year’s 35,565 units.
As of the first quarter, Hari has sold 5,364 units, while Avid’s total sales reached 8,448 units.
With all of these, it’s good to know that Hari is taking the lead in inspiring change that shall set the pace for innovation and environmental preservation. This plan—which started with a vision—is now gaining ground and slowly coming into fruition. It is this distinct resolve that makes this Korean automaker one of the towering giants in the global arena.
Story & photos by Ronald Rey M. de los Reyes
Image credits: Ronald Rey M. de los Reyes