Hyundai Philippines airs side

We write on behalf of our client, Hyundai Asia Resources Inc. (Hari) which was the subject of a scathing column titled “Car chaste” written by Conrado R. Banal III (Business, 9/7/17).

In that writeup, Hari was pilloried and made a whipping boy by the author without giving it a chance to air its side. There was no attempt whatsoever to contact Hari or seek clarification for the serious accusations hurled against it.

We point out the following baseless and erroneous facts and misrepresentations by Banal about Hari, its Motor Vehicle

Development Program (MVDP) license and the Eon model:

1. The column stated that Hari was expelled from the MVDP. For the record, Hari remains an active MVDP member, albeit its registration is currently under reconsideration and review by the Board of Governors of the Board of Investments (BOI).

2. Banal claimed that Hari is a technical smuggler when in fact all its importations are covered by BOI Electronic Certificate of Authority to Import. All customs duties and costs were duly paid prior to importation.

3. He also stated that Hari’s knocked down (KD) components are completely built units (CBUs). KD units are not CBUs. A CBU is a passenger vehicle that is operational and running on importation. Hari’s Eon KD kits consist of 136 parts. The Eon model is NOT an operational vehicle at the time of importation until after all KD parts are fully assembled and tested.

4. Banal further claimed that Hari’s Eon KD units are duly registered motor vehicles with vehicle identification numbers (VINs). This is far from the truth. The Eon KD units have reference numbers so that all KD parts are matched together. Reference numbers are not VINs.

Through his statements and malicious imputations, Banal has prejudged and portrayed Hari as a lawbreaker, thereby causing irreparable damage to its reputation.

Hari is studying the rights afforded to it by law, including other legal options to protect its corporate reputation.

1. TERESA TABORA-LEDESMA,

Cabrera & Company