Revenge travel powers car battery firm’s expansion goals

Motolite Philippines is eyeing further expansion this year with plans to roll out more battery products and extend its roadside assistance services to other parts of the country.

“We will be coming out with more information regarding the other batteries … to have a complete lineup of mobility and vehicle-related batteries,” Motolite marketing head Alexander Osias said. “We are also going to expand the sizes of motorcycle batteries. That is what we are focused on.”

Just last month, Motolite launched two battery products under its premium Excel line: the Excel EFB (enhanced flooded battery) and the Excel AGM (absorbent glass mat).

The official added they were also expanding the coverage of their hotlines and their Motolite Res-Q, a 24/7 roadside assistance service in Metro Manila and in key cities across the Philippines.

“We really want to be from Luzon to Mindanao,” he said, adding: “We’ll start obviously with the bigger cities and we will see how the logistics are. Logistics are different in the provinces.”

Osias said “revenge travel” was driving their optimism for market growth.

“People want to reconnect with their families,” he added. “So that’s why we are optimistic for this year because we see not just the resurgence of [automobiles] but also of motorcycles,” he added.

The Motolite official also said their growth was closely tied to the local automotive industry, which saw a strong 2022.

Last November alone, vehicle sales in the country grew by 32.4 percent to 35,037 vehicle units.

Local production of motor vehicles also hit a four-month growth streak in November, rising by 48.3 percent year-on-year to 10,315 vehicle units. INQ

—Alden M. Monzon