Sarao Motors

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.^[2][3]

Sarao Motors, Inc.

Company type	Private
Industry	Automotive
Founded	1953 (as an automotive shop) 1962 (as a corporation)
Founder	Leonardo S. Sarao
Headquarters	Pulang Lupa, Las Piñas, Metro Manila , Philippines
Area served	Nationwide
Key people	Rafael Sarao, Sr. Ernesto Sarao Eduardo Sarao
Products	Jeepney
Production output	12 to 15 units per day (peak)[1]
Website	Facebook

History

A Sarao jeepney in Olongapo in 1973

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 ₱700 (equivalent to ₱91,211 in 2021). 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.^[2]

Jeepney factory

1988 Sarao Jeepney in Southward Car Museum, New Zealand

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.^[2][4] 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.^[5][6][7]

In 2000, rising costs forced Sarao Motors to halt jeepney production,^[8] 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.^[9] The company eventually resumed operations on a smaller scale.^[10][11]

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.^{[citation needed]}

In 1981, Pope John Paul II rode a specially built owner-type jeepney by Sarao during his first visit to the country.^[12]