Brian Buendia new Kia chief

Kia Philippines Motor Corporation (KPMC), the official importer and distributor of Kia vehicles in the country, announced the appointment of Brian Buendia as its new chief operating officer after the retirement of its current president Manny Aligada. Buedia takes over the helm on July 1, 2023.

“As chief operating officer, Brian will lead the bolstering of Kia’s position in the industry rankings with the introduction of new models, and the strengthening of the distribution network in its dealerships which currently stands at 44 in strategic locations nationwide,” said AC Motors president for Automobile Group Toti Zara. 

Buendia will also lead KPMC’s continued development of the electric vehicle (EV) eco-system in the country, with Ayala organizations and other players as active partners. He will pursue what has been launched by Kia and the Ayala Group in transitioning the automotive industry into cleaner and more sustainable technologies. 

“Brian has been earnestly preparing and transitioning for his new role since January, closely looking at the local automotive landscape and getting the pulse of the mobility markets—local, regional, and global,” Zara further said.

Buendia has been with AC Motors since 1998, earning an extensive career experience in sales, business development and network operations. This has also made him more than capable of anticipating—and carrying out—crucial brand and market executions for Kia in the future. Ultimately, Buendia’s leadership as KPMC COO would further enhance brand familiarity and affinity with even more Filipino motorists, as his extensive industry experience will enable him to determine the optimal products and services to suit the needs and aspirations of a much wider market base. This would include improved and innovative aftersales services, a seamless and continuous nationwide expansion of the dealer network, and gaining a firm foothold in the future of sustainable mobility, built upon the recent launch of the EV6 full-electric SUV—a crucial step towards Ayala’s promise of building the country’s full EV eco-system. 

Meanwhile, the landmark achievements by KPMC President Manny Aligada, who retires this June 30, will serve as the foundation which Buendia will build upon. Aligada spearheaded a revitalized Kia Philippines under Ayala management starting December 2018. In just nearly five years, Kia Philippines became one of the fastest growing car brands and an established key player in the local automotive industry. It was also recognized by Kia Asia Pacific (K-APAC) for achieving the highest growth rate in the region, as well as being the number one independent distributor in retail sales in 2022. Kia Philippines also launched several new models, including the Stonic subcompact crossover which has become the best-selling Kia vehicle since its 2020 launch, and the EV6, the first EV in the Ayala mobility eco-system.