Manila International Auto Show: Five Years and Going Strong
April 9, 2009 by Tsikot
Perhaps the longest-running auto show in the country, the Manila International Auto Show (Mias), organized by the Worldbex group under the auspices of Joseph Ang, has now celebrated its fifth year in another grand fashion.
Performing for the annual car show again is world Guinness record holder for precision driving Russ Swift, who wowed the crowd during the four-day affair that lasted from April 2 to 4.
Pulling in a little under 100,000 visitors from all walks of life, the Mias has been the most consistent car show in the country, coming out with an annual event since 2005, even after all the other competitors have folded and gone dry.
View this event’s photos at Car Shows Philippines.
The most visible supporter for this year was Motor Image Pilipinas (MIP), dealer of the country’s fastest-growing auto brand, Subaru. Nicky Mariano, head of the MIP, said, “Mias has been one of our staunchest supporters and it is only fitting that we return the favor.”
Glenn Tan, president of Motor Image, was present at the launch of the new Subaru Impreza, which was used by Swift for his exhibition at the Mias and still showing what a Subaru can do.
Ford Group Philippines was amply represented, with its exhibit and presence of Glen Dasig, vice president for sales of FGP.
Top Gear Philippines also launched its latest offering to the motoring public. Vernon Sarne, Top Gear editor in chief, has tasked Barbara Lorenzo, managing editor of Top Gear online, to create a site that car lovers would definitely visit. This was launched on the first-day festivities. The Petron Car of the Year was also very visible along with the Subaru STI prominently displayed in the lobby of the World Trade Center.
This year, Mias was dominated by Chinese brands like Lifan, Foton, Chery, Great Wall Motors and more. A few of the mainstream manufacturers like Honda, Isuzu, Ford, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz and Chrysler were represented, most if not all by their dealers instead of their main principal.
A report reached the BusinessMirror that the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (Campi) had allegedly discouraged its members from participating in the Mias. Sources from within Campi said there are now factions inside the organization who are at odds on how their events, activities and participation in such events as the Mias should be handled. The same sources also said that a rift has developed between a group consisting of Chinese brands and the Japanese conglomerate, which has been dubbed by industry insiders as the “Yakuza-Triad competition.”
This development comes on the heels of an announcement made by Campi during a press conference held in December last year that the second edition of the Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS) would not push through in 2009 due to the current global financial meltdown.
Department of Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza said, “This competition between Campi and private auto organizations is not doing the automotive industry any good.”
This writer sought the side of Campi through its president, Elizabeth Lee, who said, “Campi never issued a ban on the participation of its members in the Mias. In fact, several of the dealers who are involved in the Mias even received funding from their principals in order to participate in the event.”
Ang, meanwhile, said, “We are very pleased with the outcome of the motor show and we expect that the Mias will be giving service to the people and be of help to the consumer.”
After this year’s Mias, Ang said they plan to expand next year’s program to make it more entertaining and informative. He was also hopeful that the situation with PIMS this year would improve and that they could work together for the development of the Philippine auto industry.
With Mias on a roll on its fifth year, and with a definite cooperation with the auto industry, we may just have a crack at being the future automotive hub in Southeast Asia.
by Ira V. Panganiban, Business Mirror
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