Inchcape is the new distributor of Changan vehicles in the Philippines

Inchcape Philippines, a joint venture between British company Inchcape and CATS Motors, Inc., was officially chosen by the Changan International Corporation (CIC) as the distributor of Changan cars in the Philippines. 

Inchcape PH COO Frankie Ang (2nd from left), Inchape Managing Director South Asia & Pacific Kirk Hammett (4th from left), Vice General Manager CIC Tom Yin (4th from right) with other Inchcape and CIC executives

Inchcape PH takes the official distributorship of the brand from Changan Motor Philippines, Inc. (CMPI). As a review, CMPI was appointed as Changan’s local distributor in 2020, the year when the Chinese car brand re-entered the Philippine market.  

With regards to this development, Inchcape Managing Director for South Asia & Pacific Alex Hammett said “We are pleased to join hands with Changan, a leading OEM to distribute their extensive and high-quality vehicle portfolio in the Philippines.”

Hammett further added that this is a huge milestone for Inchcape PH and that the company is looking forward to strong growth and future shared successes with Changan. 

CIC Vice General Manager Tom Yin likewise added that global partnerships like the one with Inchcape are “embedded in Changan’s history.” It is a big step in the brand’s mission to become a pioneer in auto culture, and its own goals will come to fruition thanks to Inchcape’s vast knowledge in car distribution and market expansion. 

As a part of the deal, Inchcape PH will take over the operations of over 25 Changan dealerships and outlets around the Philippines. This is effective as of August 2023. 

The Changan CS35 Plus 

Currently, Changan’s model lineup in the Philippines consists of the CS35 Plus, CS55 Plus, Unit-T, Uni-K, and Alsvin. It wasn’t mentioned overtly, but it was implied that Inchcape might bring in newly developed new-energy Changan vehicles in the future. The Chinese car brand, after all, has continuously invested in fully electric and hybrid models. 

For those unfamiliar, Inchcape currently handles the operations of many of CATS Motor’s luxury brands such as Jeep, Dodge, Ram, Mercedes-Benz, Land Rover, Jaguar, and Chrysler. 

Globally, Inchcape operates in more than 36 countries. It has extensive knowledge in automotive distribution, and the company itself can be traced back to 1847 as the Mackinnon Mackenzie Company (MMC). 

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