The start of the COVID-19 pandemic was undoubtedly difficult for the automotive industry. As a result of the mandatory quarantines that kept people at home and minimized the use of cars, the demand for vehicles and car services also dwindled.
The Toyota Oben Group – which owns and operates Toyota Balintawak, Toyota Otis, Toyota North EDSA, Toyota Marilao, Bulacan, and Toyota San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan – wasn’t spared from the negative impact of the pandemic.
According to Mark Tejada, Vice President and General Manager of Toyota Otis, car sales dropped by 30% at the onset of the pandemic in 2020, and at the same time, the number of vehicles serviced daily was cut by more than 30%.
But thanks to a long-running partnership with Meralco Biz, the Toyota Oben Group was able to withstand all these losses and generate more than 100,000 pesos in monthly savings through energy efficiency measures from Meralco. These measures ultimately enabled the group to offset incremental operational costs brought on by the pandemic.
The Power to Save
The relationship between the Toyota Oben Group and Meralco Biz began in 2012 when the former started expanding its business. This expansion included upgrading its Toyota North EDSA building from a single-floor dealership to the five-floor powerhouse it is today.
Meralco Biz addressed its power demands and helped make the new building more energy efficient. The same energy efficiency measures were extended to each of the Toyota Oben Group’s branches—from Balintawak to Marilao.
All in all, Meralco Biz was able to help the Toyota Oben Group save as much as PHP100,000 monthly on their electricity bills. The savings were then reinvested into projects that reduced their carbon footprint. According to the dealership’s International Standards Organization report, the business enjoys a monthly carbon footprint reduction of about 32 kilos.
The San Jose Del Monte, Marilao, and Mindanao branches also signed up for Meralco Net Metering, a program that ensures their solar panels’ safe installation and operation. And when they generate excess solar power, they can export it to the power grid in exchange for bill credits resulting in estimated monthly savings of up to PHP10,000 on top of their savings from energy efficiency initiatives.
The Power to Reinvest
The group’s savings helped buffer the impact of the pandemic. With the dealership requiring its staff to disinfect workstations every two hours, the savings helped cover the cost of alcohol and disinfectants. It also allowed the Toyota Oben Group to invest in high-quality air purifiers from MServ, a Meralco subsidiary and is one of the country’s premier energy management companies.
“The air purifiers have a big impact on our customers and team members,” says Tejada. “It gave our employees a lot of confidence in returning to work safely. And even in our showrooms, you’ll see that customers appreciate that.”
The Power to Recover
Today, the Toyota Oben Group has managed to recover significantly from the crisis. From roughly 130 unit sales per month in early 2020, they now average around 220 monthly unit sales.
The pandemic has forced many companies to make painful compromises or face the risk of folding altogether. In this case, the Toyota Oben Group was not only able to stay afloat but was also empowered to move onward and upward with the help of Meralco Biz.
“Our partnership with the Toyota Oben Group proves how Meralco Biz remains committed to empowering businesses despite the uncertain times. With reliable and future-ready energy solutions that will support the ever-changing requirements of businesses, we ensure that our partners maximize their business’s profitability, operational efficiency, and resilience,” says Joy P. Mendoza, AVP & Head of Meralco Biz.
For those interested in letting Meralco Biz power a brighter tomorrow for their business, email biz@meralco.com.ph or call its business hotline at 16210 for a FREE Power Consult.
