Russian Truck Brand GAZ Enters PH Market

Russian commercial vehicle manufacturer GAZ ( Gorkovsky Avtomobilny Zavod or 'Gorky Automobile Plant' in English) has entered the Philippine market with the arrival of the first batch of light commercial vehicles from GAZ Group Light Commercial Vehicles Llc.

Officially distributed in the Philippine market by the Eastern Petroleum Group of Companies, the first batch of GAZ vehicles to arrive in the country are the Gazelle Next Van and Gazelle Next Cityline models.

"The first of many shipments," said Eastern Petroleum Group Chairman and Chief Executive Dr. Fernando L. Martinez. "This is a milestone for our Group as this confirms our Russian partner’s commitment to market its vehicles in the Philippines and reaffirms their support to the Government's transport modernization program."

The next shipment of GAZ vehicles, which will arrive in time for the 2018 Manila International Auto Show from April 5 to 8, will be received by Gazelle Motors Corporation, the automotive business unit of Eastern Petroleum Group of Companies. Gazelle Motors Corporation will be launched tomorrow, March 1, 2018.

The initial shipment of Gazelle units will supposedly be used for Gazelle Motors' initial display and as part of its marking efforts, market study and research, among others.

"These units come at opportune time, as these would also help us in our plans to localize some of these units’ components," Dr. Martinez added.

The partnership between the Eastern Petroleum Group of Companies and the GAZ Group was born from President Rodrigo Duterte's visit to Moscow, Russia in May 2017. The partnership was finalized through a signing ceremony at the sidelines of the Comtrans 2017 in Moscow, Russia in September 2017, making Eastern Petroleum Group of Companies the exclusive distributor and aftersales service provider of the GAZ Group Light Commercial Vehicles Llc.'s light-commercial, medium-commercial, and heavy-duty vehicles in the Philippines.

"With more than 200,000 units in the country due for replacement in the next five years, the product line our Russian partners brings fully comply with the environmental standards and also meet all comfort and safety requirements of the Philippines," Dr. Martinez concluded.