Sarao Motors, Inc. is a Filipino automotive manufacturing company headquartered in Las Piñas, Metro Manila, the Philippines. The company specializes in designing, engineering, manufacturing, and distributing the jeepney."Sarao Jeepney" . The Official Website of Las Piñas City. Retrieved on 2013-04-08."Jeepney". Stuart Exchange. Retrieved on 2013-04-08.
History
Sarao Motors was established in 1953 by Leonardo Sarao, a former kalesa driver turned mechanic, as a small automotive shop with an initial budget of . The company grew into a multimillion corporation that produced the majority of jeepneys in the Philippines. At its peak, the ratio of Sarao jeepneys rolling the streets of Manila outnumbered other brands by almost 7 to 1, making the Sarao name synonymous with the vehicle.
Sarao promoted the jeepney as a symbol of Philippine culture, and its vehicles have represented the country in several events. In 1964, a Sarao jeepney was exhibited at the Philippine pavilion at the New York World's Fair as a national image for Filipinos.Mercado, Leonardo N. "The Filipino Mind - Chapter X: Microcosms, THE JEEPNEY AS MICROCOSM" . Council for Research in Values and Philosophy. Retrieved on 2013-04-12. In 1971, a Sarao jeepney traveled from Manila to London and all over Europe as part of the London-Manila Express, a roadshow sponsored by the Philippine Tourism and Travel Association to boost the country's tourism and industry to European countries.saraocraft (2005-04-16). "23 LONDON MANILA Jeepney Express". Flickr.com. Retrieved on 2013-04-13."Bayanihan International Milestones". Bayanihan National Dance Company. Retrieved on 2013-04-13.saraocraft (2005-04-16). "london manila express 1971". Flickr.com. Retrieved on 2013-04-13.
In 2000, rising costs forced Sarao Motors to halt jeepney production, resulting in a downsizing of its workforce from 300 to only 50 employees. The collection department was the only part of the company that remained operational. The company eventually resumed operations on a smaller scale.
Products Aside from the jeepney, Sarao Motors also manufactures custom-built owner-type jeepneys and other types of vehicles for schools, businesses, and other institutions.
In 1981, Pope John Paul II rode a specially built owner-type jeepney by Sarao during his first visit to the country.saraocraft (2005-04-16). "15 Pope John Paul". Flickr.com. Retrieved on 2013-04-13.
References
External links
A Sarao jeepney manufactured in 1955