Honda Philippines Adjusts City and Jazz Prices

Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. announces plans to adjust the suggested retail prices of its mighty subcompacts, the Honda City and Jazz models. Effective October 1, 2009, all City and Jazz models will have minimal increase in price amounting to P5,000 and P10,000, respectively. The 1.3-liter A City variant with manual transmission will be priced at P681,000 while the 1.3-liter S Jazz variant with manual transmission will be priced at P732,000.

The announcement ends the introductory prices of the City in January 2009, when the 3rd generation model was officially launched in the local market.

The entry of the 3rd generation City and 2nd generation Jazz in the market reinforced Honda’s claim on the passenger car segment. This year’s combined City and Jazz sales from January to August more than doubled as compared to the same period in 2008. Such favorable market acceptance enabled Honda to increase its total passenger car sales by 35%. Read more

Mitsubishi Philippines Continues Winning Streak

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. (MMPC) sales continue a favorable trend in spite of the slump in auto sales worldwide caused by the global financial crisis. MMPC posted an impressive 31.3% increase for the first seven months the year compared to the same period last year. Total vehicle sales in the Philippines for the same period is slightly weaker by 2.4% compared to last year. MMPC sold a total of 12,959 units from January to July accounting to 18 percent market share or 4.6 percentage points higher than its market share attainment last year.

MMPC also posted increases in all of the industry categories. Mitsubishi passenger cars grew by 13% with the sales improvement in Lancer 1.6 and Lancer EX 2.0 models. Light Commercial Vehicles increased by 33% due to Montero Sport, Adventure, Strada and L300 models while Fuso Trucks and Bus models also grew by 32%. With this performance, MMPC maintained its ranking as the 2nd best selling automotive brand in the Philippine market. Read more

CATS Motors Launches First Luxury Hybrid in Southeast Asia

Marking another milestone in the Philippine automotive industry, CATS Motors, Inc. unveiled last Tuesday the Mercedes-Benz S400 L Blue Hybrid – the country’s first luxury hybrid sedan. The S400 is powered by hybrid drive system that utilizes a highly advance electric motor system matched to an internal combustion engine for better driving performance, fuel efficiency and lesser emission.

Greg Yu and Felix Ang, chairman and president of CATS Motors, Inc., respectively, led the launching of the S400 L Blue Hybrid, which is also the first passenger car model with a hybrid system to be introduced by Mercedes-Benz.

Aside from the Philippine market, the S400 L is also the first luxury sedan to be unveiled in Southeast Asia, Yu emphasized. Read more

Ford Philippines Exports 500 Units of Focus to Indonesia

Ford Motor Company Philippines (FMCP) announced that it has completed its largest fleet sales order to Indonesia as it exported over 500 units of locally made Ford Focus.

In a statement, FMCP president Rick Baker said that they sold 577 units of Ford Focus to the Indonesian National Police Force. Likewise, the Indonesian police purchased 591 Ford Rangers produced in AutoAlliance Thailand to complete the fleet order.

Exports account for roughly half of Ford’s total production volume. As of end of August, cumulative exports hit 62,500 units of Ford and Mazda vehicles worth $800 million. Read more

New MVDP to Consider Chinese Auto Manufacturers’ Plans

The planned entry of Chinese motor vehicle assemblers in the local market should be considered in the formulation of a new Motor Vehicle Development Program (MVDP), which used to cater only to the Japanese and American motor vehicle investors.

Elizabeth H. Lee, president of the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI), said the planned MVDP must be fair and transparent to all stakeholders not just the existing assemblers but also parts makers, the new investors that have committed to come in, and the labor sector.

“A fair and transparent MVDP should be a result of a thorough review. As such, it will entice new investors into the industry,” Lee said. Read more

Toyota to Improve Multi-Purpose Vehicle Line

As vehicle sales continue to dip, Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. (TMPC) announced that they will be introducing improvements in their International Innovative Multipurpose Vehicles (IMV) soon.

In a statement, Toyota said that the new line is composed of the Hilux pick-up truck, Fortuner compact sport utility vehicle (SUV), and Innova multipurpose vehicle (MPV). The company said the improvement of the IMV aims to further strengthen the company’s number one position in the commercial vehicle segment.

The country’s top-selling commercial vehicle, the Innova, offers more convenience with an automatic up/ down power driver.

The Hilux, the country’s highest selling pick up truck, enhances its current line up with improvements which includes driver’s airbag, seatbelt warning, 4 spoke steering wheel, power doorlocks, and front fog lamps. Read more

Ford Philippines Continues Record Sales Performance in August 2009

Ford Philippines recently reported a 17% increase in retail sales in August versus the same period last year, as customer demand for Ford’s high quality and fuel-efficient cars, crossovers, trucks and SUVs enabled the company to post record-high performance only shortly after its record-breaking sales in June 2009. Total sales from June to August were up 25% versus the same period a year ago.

Ford’s record sales in August comes hot on the heels of June’s retail results which represent the highest sales FGP has posted since March 2008.

“We have one of the freshest lineups of new products in the country,” said FGP President Rick Baker. “Our product portfolio now boasts of new and significantly freshened vehicles that are class-leading in quality, fuel-efficiency, safety and value. Our sales results reflect that our Filipino consumers continue to appreciate Ford’s efforts to produce vehicles they want and value.” Read more

Local Automotive Industry Upbeat Despite Lower Sales

The local automotive industry remains upbeat despite the 1.3 percent drop in overall sales during the first eight months of this year.

For January to August, auto sales stood at only 82,081 units down from the 83,196 units sold during the same period the previous year.

However, the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc (CAMPI) said that they remain cautiously optimistic because the industry posted better year to date sales when compared to the previous month. The year to date decline for January to July was 2.4 percent.

“We are thankful that sales improved though slightly in terms of year to date figures. The industry remains positive and is banking on continued and stronger OFW remittances which will spur consumption coupled with auto loans seen to grow as well in the coming months,” CAMPI president Elizabeth H. Lee said. “So far, lower rates have helped auto sales,“ she added. Read more

Mitsubishi Achieves Highest Ranking in Philippines Sales Satisfaction Study

Overall industry satisfaction in the Philippines declines as shoppers have higher expectations

Mitsubishi improves by two rank positions from 2008 to rank highest in overall new-vehicle sales satisfaction in the Philippines, according to the J.D. Power Asia Pacific 2009 Philippines Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI) StudySM .

Now in its ninth year, the study measures new-vehicle owner satisfaction with sales and delivery experience and examines seven key factors that contribute to overall satisfaction. In order of importance, these factors are delivery process; delivery timing; salesperson; paperwork; deal; sales initiation; and dealer facility.

Mitsubishi ranks highest with a score of 841 on a 1,000-point scale, performing particularly well in the delivery process factor. Honda and Mazda, respectively, follow in the rankings, with both brands improving from 2008. Other brands performing above the industry average are Chevrolet, Kia and Toyota. Overall industry satisfaction in 2009 averages 833, a 10-point decline from 2008. The factors with the largest declines from 2008 are delivery timing (down 14 points) and delivery process (down 13 points). Read more