Story & photos by Randy S. Peregrino
DRIVE+, the true home of car care experts in the Philippines, recently inaugurated its pilot branch at 81 Panay Avenue 1320 Quezon Avenue, in Quezon City. The new service center offers top-of-the-line car care from its expert advisers, accredited staff and technicians. But what’s exceptional about this new concept center is its first-class and modern lounge with a touch of lifestyle ambience for the customers to have a unique experience.
Present during the event was Drive+ Car Care Center brand manager Jason Manabat, JM Far East Inc. CEO Winston Manabat, Drive+ CEO Lily Manabat, Drive+ designer Gary Caldwell and former APAC sales head of Continental Tires Peter Hoffman. “It is of great pride that we’ve always been an advocate for quality in making sure we provide only what we know will be of great value to the Filipino motoring consumers. By value, we do not only refer to the superior brands we can offer through this Business Center but more so, the best services and customer experience we can provide,” said Jason.
Situated in an expansive 3,000-square-meter property, the service area alone, with 19 service bays, already occupies the majority of the area. It has more than 10 lifters, excluding the five dedicated bays for computerized wheel alignment works. Other services being offered are oil change, tune-up, preventive maintenance checkup, tire balancing and even car wash/detailing, among others. The service center also sells various tire brands, such as Falken, Continental tires, Yokohama, Goodyear, CEAT, Dunlop and Hancook, to name a few.
The Manabat family’s roots started with JM Auto Supply, their first business, which was established in 1960 in the heart of Binondo, Manila, by Jugo Manabat. In the 1970s, through the leadership of Jason’s father, Winston, the company evolved into a tire importer and was then known as JM Far East Inc. In the 1990’s, JM further developed its passion for quality by distributing world famous tire brands all over the country.
With the family’s passion for quality came the opening of Tire Boy, a service center located on Maria Clara Street in Banawe in the year 2000. This was the family’s first venture to enter the automotive service industry. The advocacy and mission of this business was to deliver high-quality car-care services and products as an alternative to car dealerships and an after-sales support.
In upholding their core values of quality service, the store successfully gained renown as one of the most reliable and capable service centers in the Banawe Area in just two years. After successfully delivering value to Philippine market and accomplishing its mission, the next step was to provide customers the best possible car care experience and hence the Drive+ Car Care Center was born.
“At Drive+ Car Care Center, we are committed to deliver more value to our customers in a manner that we have mastered throughout decades of experience with Tire Boy, our first concept service center. We operate with impeccable work ethics and a professional management team, all focused on making sure we are highly productive, efficient and, most important, trustworthy in serving our ever growing client base,” Jason added.
Meanwhile, the customer lounge and showroom areas are also spacious, which offer a breath of fresh air in terms of interior design. With its eco-friendly and conducive atmosphere, surely customers would relish their respective waiting time. The reception area alone already extends a welcoming setting to accommodate any inquiry with enough seats and desks. Also, there’s an aftermarket parts retail area offering genuine brands. At the mezzanine area, meantime, there are more cozy sections to visit. There’s the cozy customer lounge where you can enjoy free coffee and drinks while there are more tables with comfy chairs at the balcony. There, you can find another aftermarket wheels and truck/busses tires showrooms. The best part is there’s free Wi-fi access.
“We pride ourselves in upholding our corporate values and ethical business practices despite adversities because we believe that this is what separates us from the rest and makes us who we are. With the opening of Drive+ Car Care Center, we don’t just offer products and services. We offer expertise, value for money and a relationship with customers like no other,” Jason explained.
Drive+ is open from Monday to Saturday at 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. To know more about Drive+ services and other information, visit the branch at 1320 Quezon Avenue or 81 Panay Avenue.
Image credits: Randy S. Peregrino
