The Department of Transportation has granted FOTON Motor Philippines, Inc. (FMPI) the Certificate of Compliance for the commercial vehicle brand’s entry to PUV Modernization Program, the F-Jeepney.
As per Philippine National Standards (PNS) 2126:2017, the Class 2 FOTON F-Jeepney F24 variant has passed the requirements with the impacting upgrades imposed for innovated comfort and security for its passengers.
“The scorching heat brought by climate change, the heavy traffic that runs you out of time, the discomfort in riding on nearly dilapidated vehicles brings so much hassle to the commuters,” said FMPI president Rommel Sytin in line with the on-going local transport crisis issue in the Philippines.
He continued, “We want to change that, and we want the Filipinos, especially those who belong to the working class, to get to their destinations quickly, safely and comfortably through the F-Jeepney.” In order to sustain safety, comfort, and environmental soundness, the F-Jeepney was designed with features in compliance with the national standards and international vehicle safety conventions through the addition of speed limiters, CCTV camera, GPS tracker, and dashboard camera.
Compared to the average jeepney, the F-Jeepney is equipped with stainless fixed bench type seats that can hold a capacity up to 24 passengers—16 seating and 8 standing. The F-Jeepney is more spacious, providing maximized room for cargo and legroom. It has comparatively wider passenger doors, making ingress and egress a whole lot easier.
In terms of comfort and convenience, the F-Jeepney boasts of its fully air-conditioned interiors, comfortable seats, and tap card-based fare collection system. LED monitor and Wi-Fi connectivity are also activated for entertainment during commute.
Ensuring optimal power and performance, the F-Jeepney carries the world-renowned ISF 2.8 CRDI 4-cylinder, in-line, water-cooling turbo charger Cummins diesel engine paired to a 5-speed manual transmission. This workhorse generates 116 hp at 3,200 rpm, and a torque of 260 N-m at 1,300 – 3,200 rpm, belonging to FOTON’s line-up of Blue Energy Euro 4 compliant vehicles designed for cleaner and more powerful mobility.
“FOTON understands the importance of being able to move a large number of people reliably, safely as well as with care for the environment. And from this, we see the role of the F-Jeepney as a workhorse and multi-functional partner for the growing number of PUV operators in the country.” added Sytin.
Since 2018, FMPI has been actively showcasing the F-Jeepney in nationwide caravans, DOTr and LTO facilitated motor shows. Last September, FMPI showcased the 2 latest variants of the F-Jeepney: F29 and F24, with their names both derived on the vehicle seating capacity at FOTON’s Big AtTRUCKtion.
According to FMPI VP for Sales and Marketing Levy Santos, the F-Jeepney is now readily available nationwide. “We are closely coordinating with our continuously growing dealer networks in NCR, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao to bring the F-Jeepney within reach of our operators across the Philippines.”
FOTON is known as Asia’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturer including passenger vehicles, light duty trucks, medium duty trucks, heavy duty trucks and heavy machinery.
