If you’ve been seeing more buses and trucks on the road lately, you’re not alone. Vietnam-based THACO, short for Truong Hai Auto Corporation, has officially joined the Philippine commercial vehicle market. The company has partnered with BJ Mercantile, Inc. to offer a line of buses and trucks to support growing transport and logistics needs in the country.
THACO Auto Vice-President Doan Dat Ninh shared that they see good potential in the Philippines, especially with the government’s ongoing plans to modernize public transportation. He also mentioned that THACO’s products and services are ready to match what the local market needs. Under the agreement, BJ Mercantile will start selling four bus models from THACO. These are the Cruizer 80, Cruizer 85, Cruizer 110, and Cruizer 120. BJ Mercantile will also be in charge of after-sales service and spare parts for THACO vehicles.
The company is also looking at the possibility of offering sleeper buses for longer routes, as well as medium-duty trucks that can help meet the rising demand in logistics. BJ Mercantile Vice-President Leilani Lim-Tan shared that they don’t have fixed sales numbers just yet, but both companies hope to grow the market in the next few years. She also said the free trade agreement between the Philippines and Vietnam helps make the partnership smoother, as it allows them to bring in fully built units directly.
According to her, sales of light trucks and buses are going up, mainly because of the growing need for logistics services and fleet replacement in the bus sector. She pointed out that smaller trucks are doing well, while sales of bigger trucks are still a bit slow. She added that bus operators have been more active recently, especially after many of them were affected during the pandemic and only returned to full operations in 2023.
Based on data from the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) and the Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA), sales of light-duty trucks and buses rose by 17.2 percent in the first five months of the year. THACO is now part of BJ Mercantile’s growing portfolio, which already includes brands like Scania, Ashok-Leyland, Fuso, and Hongqi. THACO vehicles will be displayed at BJ Mercantile’s showroom along EDSA Balintawak.
