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May 19, 2014

AVID Rallies in April with 16 Percent Growth

With the reignited consumer appetite for cars, the Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors (AVID) saw its sales climbed to 16% for the month of April to a total of 2,657 units from year-ago levels of 2,293 units. Year-to-date, the group sales racked up to a total of 11,712 units, reflecting a robust 14% growth in sales from comparable period last year.

Kia Motors Corporation announced last week its global sales figures (export sales, domestic sales and sales from overseas plants) for passenger cars, recreational vehicles (RVs) and commercial vehicles for April 2014, recording a total of 251,120 units sold. This figure represents a 4.9% year-on-year increase.

So how do you celebrate the 25th birthday of the world’s best-selling sports car? Well, you send it racing, of course. Mazda has just announced that it will partner with the UK’s JOTA Sport to enter a Mazda MX-5 in the 24 Hours Nurburgring Endurance Race in Germany this year (June 21-22).

Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) recently recognized Honda Cars Greenhills (HCGH) and Honda Cars Marcos (HCMH) as “Certified Good Green Dealer” in a ceremony held on May 6, 2014 at their respective dealerships.

Be it with family or friends, summer is the perfect time to take a break from the daily grind and hit the road for an exciting getaway. Driving through scenic routes to the beach or up for some fresh mountain air is now made more exciting as Pilipinas Shell brings road trips to life with Shell V-Power Nitro+ fuels, designed to improve performance and act instantly in engines.

Subaru Kansha Festival 2014 Slated May 19-25 at All Dealerships

Motor Image Pilipinas Inc. (MIPI), the exclusive distributor of Subaru vehicles in the country, along with its authorized dealers will hold it’s much awaited annual Kansha Festival from May 19-25, 2014. Also known as Subaru customer appreciation week, the Kansha festival is originally a celebration adapted from the Japanese “Kinro Kansha no Hi” or Labor Thanksgiving Day.

On May 21-23, 2014, finance ministers and delegates from international and local organizations will converge for the 23rd World Economic Forum on East Asia (WEF-EA) at the Shangri-La Hotel, Makati.

Chosen as the official VIP transport vehicle for the ministers are forty (40) units of brand new Volkswagen Touareg V6 from the Philippine distributor, Automobile Central Enterprise, Inc. (ACEI).

Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI), the official distributor of Hyundai vehicles in the Philippines, saw its Passenger Car (PC) segment rallied for the first four months of the year with 16% growth in sales. The PC segment’s solid performance has helped Hyundai to keep sales steady in April despite the brand’s delicate LCV sales performance. Sales reached 1,646 units in April alone, reflecting 2% growth versus comparable period last year. Year-to-date, Hyundai’s sales reached 7,629 units, up by 1% from same period last year.

The Volvo XC60, Volvo Car Group’s (Volvo Cars) best-selling model since 2009, passed the 500,000 units sold mark in April. It has taken the model only little over half a decade to reach this milestone.

Ford Philippines’ “Conquer the Highways, Rule the Fairways” Mustang promotion came to a conclusion as these three lucky Mustang owners (L to R) Arturo Manansala, Doug Kramer and Mark Arthur Pasco were recently awarded each with a specially-designed Ford Shelby GT500 golf cart. Present at the awarding is Kay Hart, managing director, Ford Philippines and Prudz Castillo, assistant vice president for Marketing - Cars, Ford Philippines.

Isuzu D-Max Amazes Cebuanos in 4x4 Drive Series

After successfully kicking off the 2014 Isuzu D-Max 4x4 Drive Series in San Fernando, Pampanga, the off-road driving event next went on to impress Cebuanos with its staging in Mandaue, Cebu on May 9 to 11.

Manila to Host Philippines's Biggest International Auto Aftermarket Tradeshow

The SMX Convention Center, Manila is all set to welcome its biggest international business-to-business exhibition for the automotive parts, accessories and service & repair industry – PHILAUTO’14 from 29 – 31 May 2014. Over 150 companies including Pavilions from China, Korea, India, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand and Singapore will join major local industry players including Welcome Exports, Bosch, Coatings, Power Chek, AutoPhil Zone, Thermo King, to showcase a comprehensive range of exhibits for the auto aftermarket industry.

Chairman and CEO Richard J. Gordon of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), assisted by Dr. Gwendolyn T. Pang, secretary general of PRC receives a Ford Ambulance and Fire Truck from Ford Philippines managing director, Kay Hart (third from left) and AVP for government and corporate affairs, Josie Gonzalez (far right) to support ongoing emergency response efforts of the PRC across the Philippines.

Kickstart Your Summer with Volvo's Advantage Offer

Drive home more adventures this summer with Volvo’s Advantage Offer. Enjoy generous acquisition package for select brand new Volvos. Current Volvo owners will also get a free 21-point service check on their vehicles and enjoy preferential rates on select parts and services.

BMW Provides Fleet of 7 Series to 23rd World Economic Forum in East Asia

Philippine government appoints Asian Carmakers Corporation (ACC), the official importer and distributor of BMW cars in the Philippines, to serve as the official premium vehicle partner for the 23rd World Economic Forum on East Asia (WEF-EA) to be held on May 21 to 23, 2014 at The Makati Shangri-La Hotel, Metro Manila. A fleet of the most innovative sedan in the luxury segment, the BMW 7 Series, will be used for servicing visiting Heads of the States and Government leaders from across Asia during the said global forum.

Miss Vanessa Aganan, Dealer Development Manager of Volvo Philippines presents the Official Volvo Trade Partner Plaque Mr. Paul Yap, President of Volvo Iloilo (Iloilo Great Cars). The new trade partner will be offering its products and services to the Visayas and Mindanao areas. Volvo PH continues to expand its reach with Volvo Alabang, Volvo Cebu, Volvo Makati and Volvo North EDSA. Experience the new breed of Volvos by visiting or calling the nearest Volvo Dealer or Trade Partner.

Hyundai Turns Over Grand Starex, Grand Santa Fe as Official Mobility Partner for 23rd World Economic Forum East Asia & the ASEAN Finance Ministers' Investor Seminar

Last May 9, 2014 at the Esplanade in the Mall of Asia, Korean auto giant Hyundai formally turned over the Grand Santa Fe and Grand Starex units to be used as official transport for the ASEAN Finance Ministers’ Investor Seminar (AFMIS) that will be held on May 20, 2014, and the 23rd World Economic Forum on East Asia (WEF-EA) on May 21-23. It is the first time that the Philippines plays host to the WEF-EA.

First Drive: 2014 Nissan Sylphy and Nissan Altima

Nissan is back in the Philippines and back big time. This seems to be the unequivocal message as the revitalized Nissan Philippines brought its two newest offerings, the Sylphy and Altima to the Clark International Speedway for the company’s first major event: the Nissan Spin.

Columbian Autocar Corporation (CAC) President and CEO Ms. Ginia R. Domingo confirmed earlier reports of a meeting today with Congressman Manny Pacquiao of Sarangani.

"The head office of CAC in Makati was especially graced today by our country's boxing hero and legend Cong. Manny Pacquiao," Domingo said in a statement.

Cong. Pacquaio met with CAC executives and expressed his desire to help in organizing the KIA PBA basketball team after the PBA board granted CAC its approval to form a team in time for the 40th season of the league.

"We are both elated and excited at the possibility of our nation's most popular and revered sports icon, Cong. Manny Pacquaio, becoming a part of Team Kia," Domingo added.

"We will continue our discussions in the next few weeks and will announce our plans as soon as they are firmed up," Domingo ended.

UPDATED: Mazda MX-5 Celebrates 25th Anniversary with Special Edition

UPDATE (1): Mazda Philippines has confirmed that it will be releasing a total of 25 of the 1,000 units of the 25th Anniversary Edition for P 1,800,000. (5/11)

Along with the introduction of the next-generation MX-5’s Skyactiv-Chassis, the Mazda MX-5 Miata 25th Anniversary Edition revealed in New York is a special edition model that brings together 25 years’ worth of fun shared with fans.

Based on the power retractable hard top model, and available with either 6-speed manual or automatic transmissions, it is available exclusively in Soul Red Metallic.

Meticulous attention to detail has been paid in every area of the vehicle such as the black-painted roof, A-pillars, and door mirrors; off-white leather upholstery and door trim, hand-finished decorative panel, and the adoption of Bilstein dampers.

No other mechanical changes have been made to the MX-5.

The 3rd Bangkok International Auto Salon All Set for June 19-29 at Muangthong Thani

The Bangkok International Auto Salon 2014, the largest custom car and accessories show in ASEAN, enters its third successful year with the “Passion for Performance” theme.

Apart from the latest custom cars and tuning technology sent directly from Japan, visitors also get to check out customized models from major automobile producers. Also on display are customized cars from Thai mechanics while roadshows in MICE Cities are also planned in order to help raise awareness and develop Thailand’s potential as the center of automobile production in ASEAN.

For the second consecutive month, Ford Philippines today announced its all-time best monthly performance, with April retail sales soaring 60 percent year-over-year to 1,764 units.

Coming from a sales milestone just last March, the number one automotive company in the country continues to break the 8,000 unit mark for the second consecutive month. According to the most recent CAMPI report, Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) posted a share of 45% with total sales of 8,102 units in April.

It's On Like Donkey Kong: Toyota Vios Cup 2014 Kicks Off May 24!

Last January 25, 2014, the number one automotive company in the country, Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) successfully staged the Vios Cup Exhibition Race. Attended by over 6,000 petrol heads and racing fans, TMP definitely proved that motorsports is back in the country -- stronger and better than it was before.
This coming May 24 (Saturday) at the Clark International Speedway in Pampanga, TMP will bring waku-doki, or heart-racing fun to the public for them to experience another full-on motorsports / racing festival! Come and be part of the 2014 Season of the Vios Cup (Race 1) this summer and experience various exciting activities not only for motorsports fans but for the whole family and even your friends! It’s a festival you wouldn’t want to miss.

You’ve got to hand it to the folks at Toyota; in a span of a few years, maybe two at the most, they’ve managed to inject some adrenaline into their once Valium-inducing line-up. Now, waku-doki or “fun-to-drive” has become the adjective that describes everything that Toyota does. Of course, some are more successful than others, but at the end of the day, they’re intensely focused on delivering cars that are more than just plain reliable and durable. Take for instance, the Vios, Toyota’s B-segment mainstay that’s the favorite of everyone from cabbies to young executives. It’s gone from a simple Point A to Point B transport to a sharply styled number that’s hip.

Across the exhibition hall a kid runs towards a beige 1964 Ford Mustang on display The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. The kid is barely nine years old, and his knowledge of cars hasn’t reached the level where he’d care about mileage, drivability, or comfort. Yet, there he is, mesmerized by the Mustang—his wide smile, a definite sign of someone who’s found his first and true love. Alongside the kid, Japanese tourists pose for a quick snapshot beside America’s beloved pony car.

The Boss is Back: BMW Launches All-New X5 for the Philippines

The usual quiet mid-summer weekday night at the Manila Polo Club was lively with a lights and sounds show that marked the arrival of BMW Philippines’s latest offering. Asian Carmakers Corporation (ACC), the official importer and distributor of BMW in the Philippines officially launched the third-generation of the world’s most successful Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV)—the one that started it all—the all-new 2014 BMW X5. Entering the latest chapter in its successful history, the all-new X5 is set to raise the benchmark in terms of design, interior spaciousness, luxury, versatility, driving dynamics, efficiency, and innovative equipment features.

The 12th Michelin Challenge Bibendum, an innovative “think & action tank” promoting clean, safe, connected, accessible, and affordable mobility, will be held in Chengdu, China from 11th to 15th this November. It was announced at a joint press conference by Michelin Group and the Chengdu municipal government.

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May 19, 2014

AVID Rallies in April with 16 Percent Growth

Kia Posts 4.9 Percent Global Sales Growth in April

Mazda MX-5 Celebrates 25 Years by Racing in the 24 Hours of Nurburgring

Honda Recognizes Newly Established Dealers as "Good Green Dealers"

Fuel an Exciting Drive with Shell V-Power Nitro+

May 18, 2014

Subaru Kansha Festival 2014 Slated May 19-25 at All Dealerships

Volkswagen is the Official VIP Vehicle Partner of the Philippine Government for 23rd World Economic Forum

16 Percent Growth in Passenger Cars Kept Hyundai Sales Steady in April

Volvo XC60 Passes 500,000 Unit Sold Milestone

Ford Awards Specially-Designed Mustang Golf Carts to Three Lucky Mustang Owners

May 13, 2014

Isuzu D-Max Amazes Cebuanos in 4x4 Drive Series

Manila to Host Philippines's Biggest International Auto Aftermarket Tradeshow

Ford Philippines Donates Ambulance and Fire Truck to Support Philippine Red Cross

Kickstart Your Summer with Volvo's Advantage Offer

May 12, 2014

BMW Provides Fleet of 7 Series to 23rd World Economic Forum in East Asia

Volvo Philippines Expands to Iloilo with New Trade Partner

Hyundai Turns Over Grand Starex, Grand Santa Fe as Official Mobility Partner for 23rd World Economic Forum East Asia & the ASEAN Finance Ministers' Investor Seminar

May 11, 2014

First Drive: 2014 Nissan Sylphy and Nissan Altima

Kia Issues Official Statement on Manny Pacquiao's Involvement with PBA Team

UPDATED: Mazda MX-5 Celebrates 25th Anniversary with Special Edition

May 9, 2014

The 3rd Bangkok International Auto Salon All Set for June 19-29 at Muangthong Thani

Ford Philippines Delivers All-Time Best Monthly Sales in April

Toyota Continues Record Monthly Sales in April, Breaks 8,000 Units Sold Anew

May 6, 2014

It's On Like Donkey Kong: Toyota Vios Cup 2014 Kicks Off May 24!

Review: 2014 Toyota Vios 1.3 E TRD Sportivo

I Am Legend: The Ford Mustang at 50

May 1, 2014

The Boss is Back: BMW Launches All-New X5 for the Philippines

12th Michelin Challenge Bibendum to be Held in Chengdu, China