Philippine Automotive History Book Project

[webmiester]

Actually FMC did produce some FIAT Uno cars in the ealry 90's. This was under the peoples car program of the government. Along with Kia Pride and Daihatsu Charade. Sadly it did not really fly. The Philippines did not need a small compact vehicle, what it was in need of was a vehicle they can use for personal, family and utility. This was the AUV. The AUV enjoyed brisk sales since the introduction of the Tamaraw FX, Mitsubishi Advendute, Isuzu Crosswind up to the Revo's and Innova's. But alas, the Government got greedy, and started charging excise taxes to the AUV's. Sales dropped 40%. And now here we are. Struggling with the local auto industry, cometing with smuggled vehicles. And now we are even in danger of losing all locally made vehicles and just iporting everything in CBU form. Something has got to be done.

Yes, i remember the FIAT Uno's, I liked them. Although at first glance it looks like an old model, it starts to look more and more beautiful the more I look at it It really does have that italian flare in it

Well, ang problem din naman was the palusot that many car manufacturers did in order for their products to qualify for the AUV tax exemptions. Mga Ford Explorer, Chevy Suburban, and Mits Pajero all got qualified as an AUV due to their makeshift seats at the back. This peaked with the miraculous 10-seater Honda CRV, which was the trigger point for the removal of the excise tax exemptions.

It was funny because the BIR started making definitions on to what a 10-seater should be like... All the cars failed except the Chevy suburban, hehe.

The same problem came up with the People's Car program. It was supposed to be for smaller cheaper cars, pero ultimong Honda Civic nakapagqualify. I heard they did this by selling the cars without the essential car accessories such as tires, side view mirrors, batteries, etc. in order to meet the People's car price limit. You can't drive the car out of their casa without purchasing the additional accessories from them, so the overall price is still also expensive and was beyond the People's Car Category limits.

Sadly, it isnt just the government that has the problem. We are a government OF the people, kaya many of our government's problems is due ones that we make ourselves.

[romski123]

This should be included in the book! The habal habal. Uniquely pinoy!

Does anybody have a picture of a kuliglig?

[jpdm]

I think FMC now has a tie-up with Chery Motors of China. They are eyeing the old assembly plant of FMC in Las Pinas to produce their cars locally.

--I hope its just a joint venture just like the Italcar venture of FMC and FIAT for the FIat Uno. I mean, Francisco Motors Corp. will remain as an corporate entity in cooperation with Chery vehicles.

--Now, I believe there is a bit of good news from this tie-up.

--If this FMC-Yupangco-Chery deal pushes through. Im thinking of alot of possibilities.

--First, I have a hutch that this deal will succeed and will be good for all parties. Why, let us enumerate:

--First, the moribund FMC will be revitalized. Its assembly plant in Las PInas will be utilize again. Hopefully it will bribg revenues to FMC. I hope employees of Francisco Motor Corp. (lateros, mechanics, painters, welders, engineers etc.) will be employed and their skilled will not be wasted.

--Second, the assembly of Chery here will be mean the use of more sturdy local parts or locally made parts will be sourced here(batteries, rims and magwheels, tires, radiators, upholsteries, hoses etc.) or Chinese parts makers will decide to produce here some of the autoparts of Chery.

--Third, the Chery automobiles are good-looking quality vehicles although not par with Japanese/korean counterparts. But Suzuki Alto looks cheap. Kia/hyundai no matter what other people say still are not par with Japanese marque. So in other words, Chery vehicles (plus the Tsikot PHUV/MVPMAP/ Anfra) can annihilate the expensive, good for nothing, second hand, antique, running coffin SUVic/Port Irene/Cebu junks and smuggled junks. It will also make a big dent on the market of the oligopoly and Japanese/Korean importers and fake assemblers' dominated (they only use CBU. not good for the country.)CAMPI.

--Fourth, FMC might just convince Chery to supply them with the powertrain for the re-introduction of a more improved Anfra PHUV. Anfra is not a direct competitor of Chery, its a utility van. Chery produces cars and SUVs.

--I hope the tie-up of FMC-Yupangco/Chery will not end up just like the FMC-Ford/MAZDA tie up kasi niloko talaga ng Ford ang FMC. Ni walang binigay na danyos sa FMC ang Ford. At ang magaling nating gobyerno, walang ginawa dahil as usual, tuald ng NBN deal--nasupalpalan na naman ng Pera!!

[jpdm]

-Lease agreement lang pala. Sana Iseway should start working with FMC for the assembly of Chery here in the Philippines with high local content.Pag locally produced ang Chery, mag-apply bilang agent-marketing nila .

Here's an article from Business Mirror

As of now, Chery’s main plant is located on a 6.6-hectare property in Parañaque, which is being leased from the Francisco Motors Corp. Its main showroom is on the ground floor of the OppenBuilding on Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue in Makati. Tumao added that Chery now has a total of 13 dealers that are ready to start selling their cars within this month and six of them are located within Metro Manila. “One is ready to be opened this month at the Global City in Taguig and one is in Otis, Pandacan.”

[webmiester]

-Lease agreement lang pala. Sana Iseway should start working with FMC for the assembly of Chery here in the Philippines with high local content.Pag locally produced ang Chery, mag-apply bilang agent-marketing nila .

I hope they do put in increased local content. That might even improve Chery's quality

[dprox]

Hi Autohistorian.
Here's one for the books.

I took this shot in Santa Rosa, the "Detroit of the Philippines".
I have no idea what this three-wheeler might be called.
It is a "padyak" fruit store with two unique features:
(1) beach umbrella in lieu of roof; and
(2) steering wheel in place of handle bars.
I've seen this species of muscle-powered trikes as far away as Los Banos.

[Memphis Raines]

Hi Autohistorian.
Here's one for the books.

I took this shot in Santa Rosa, the "Detroit of the Philippines".
I have no idea what this three-wheeler might be called.
It is a "padyak" fruit store with two unique features:
(1) beach umbrella in lieu of roof; and
(2) steering wheel in place of handle bars.
I've seen this species of muscle-powered trikes as far away as Los Banos.

That's a nice one! So with that innovative steering wheel in place, is it now classified as Left Hand Drive?

[ehnriko]

Actually FMC did produce some FIAT Uno cars in the ealry 90's. This was under the peoples car program of the government. Along with Kia Pride and Daihatsu Charade. Sadly it did not really fly. The Philippines did not need a small compact vehicle, what it was in need of was a vehicle they can use for personal, family and utility. This was the AUV. The AUV enjoyed brisk sales since the introduction of the Tamaraw FX, Mitsubishi Advendure, Isuzu Crosswind up to the Revo's and Innova's. But alas, the Government got greedy, and started charging excise taxes to the AUV's. Sales dropped 40%. And now here we are. Struggling with the local auto industry, competing with smuggled vehicles. And now we are even in danger of losing all locally made vehicles and just importing everything in CBU form. Something has got to be done.

Yeah... and FAST!!!

[jpdm]

Yeah... and FAST!!!

Fast track.....take a closer look and help our alive but struggling native assemblers--especially the jeepneys, multicab and tricycle assemblers especially in the provinces.

We can do this by organizing them, training them, educating them. This is to open their eyes to the new trends. I believe with a little perseverance they we can convince these native producers who are actually members of coop in the manila and the provinces. Right channeling siguro.

Or We can start by proto-typing the most basic among the Tsikot prototypes submitted to MVPMAP.


XLT of Pampanga, Jeepneys of CALABARZOn assemblers, the guerilla Tricycle fabricators all over the country, some bus assemblers in the provinces, multicabs and sakbayan (multicab variant) of Central Visayas and Northern Mindanao.

I think we can revive the local auto industry.

Good riddance to the oligopoly.

[jpdm]

[quote=dprox;937467]Hi Autohistorian.
Here's one for the books.


There are motorized types in Cavite. Ito yung rolling stores na sinasabi ko na marami sa amin. I hope a re-design one will ply the streets of subdivisions and industrial estates in Calabarzon.

In San Frenando, Pampanga, a tuktuk type padyak is widely used there. Same with the padyaks in Anabu, Imus Cavite. A motorized version ( motorcycle plus cab-tuktuk type) will improve the vehicle- a four wheel tricycle (misnomer)