This international award was handed out by parent firm Hyundai Motor Co. during the Hyundai Global Dealers seminar held in the Philippines.

According to Ramon T. Goh, president of Hyundai E. Rod, the award is very timely for it is a fitting recognition to not just the branch’s efforts to achieve outstanding performance in sales and customer service but also as a testament to the kind of market the Philippines is for Hyundai.

"We consider this award as the crowning glory for our outstanding overall performance in 2005," he said.

Aside from the Award of Excellence, Hyundai E. Rod’s parent firm in the Philippines, Hyundai Asia Resources Inc. (HARI), the exclusive Philippine distributor of Hyundai, also gave Hyundai E. Rod the "Dealer of the Year Award."

Its other awards are: Parts Personnel of the Year, Service Department of the Year, and Best in Vehicle Sales and Best in After Sales.

Goh credits Hyundai E. Rod’s competitive advantages, from ample resources, huge facility, professional workforce, and management experience.

He pointed to HARI’s unwavering support in all aspects of marketing, from availability of models to regular car displays.

In the Philippines, Hyundai is positioned as a trusted vehicle brand designed to meet the needs of any market segment, a philosophy that Mr. Goh said is geared towards the Hyundai brand proposition "Drive Your Way."

The brand meets target market segments from the young (Getz), the practical (Accent), the adventurous (Tucson), the family (the popular Starex), and the discriminating (Sta. Fe).

Currently, Hyundai in the Philippines is ranked at No. 6 in all categories, but with a high No. 4 in the passenger car segment.