PIMS to spur new sales hopes, business

The 7th Philippine International Motor Show (organized by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc., the country’s largest group of automotive manufacturers), which is being held for five days until Sunday, Oct. 28, at the  World Trade Center in Pasay City, is expected to conclude on a successful note.

“We are happy to offer PIMS again this year. Our theme, ‘Future Mobility,’ reflects our commitment to bring technologies and concepts that make our customers’ lives easier, safer, and more connected,” says CAMPI President Atty. Rommel Gutierrez as he officially opens the event together with special guest, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and CAMPI VP Dante Santos.

In his speech, Medialdea highlighted the contribution of the automotive industry to the economy that goes hand in hand with the administration’s “Build, Build, Build” Program, which seeks to accelerate infrastructure spending and develop industries that will yield robust growth, create jobs and improve the lives of Filipinos.

Key to this P8 trillion to P9 trillion (from 2017 to 2022) program include: (a) the Subic-Clark Railway; (b) the North-South railway projects connecting Los Baños, Laguna to Tutuban, Manila and Clark Freeport in Pampanga; and (c) a 1,500-hectare industrial park in Clark, Pampanga; and (d) an expanded Clark International Airport also in Pampanga.

The three officials formally opened the exhibition door using facial recognition scanners not only to highlight the theme but also demonstrate the technology’s capabilities to create a truly personalized experience.

Inside, CAMPI’s 17 members presented their own appreciation of the theme.

• BAIC displayed its vehicles not just for business purposes, but for leisure as well, including the BJ20 sporty-looking crossover SUV.

• BMW provided “Sheer Driving Pleasure” with some of their driver-centric models, including the first-ever 6 Series Gran Turismo, the all-new X4, the all-new M5, the first-ever X2 and the M2.

• Daewoo brought in cleaner vehicles with the BS120SN and the Medium Commercial Vehicle with Euro 5 Emission Standard Engine equipped with Selective Catalytic Reduction System, an advanced active emissions control technology that can reduce NOx, a hazardous air pollutant, signifiantly.

• Foton presented the Blue ENERGY-badged (cleaner, more powerful, and more fuel-efficient engines adhering to stricter emission standards set by the government) Gratour IM6 and the Gratour TM, the Tornado M5.2C light duty truck, the EST-400 4×2 Tractor Head, the GTL 6×4 Mixer Truck, the Hurricane ESTM 6×2 Cargo and the GTL 8×4 High Roof Dump Truck.

• Fuso offered a forward-thinking approach with the Light, Medium and Heavy Duty Truck Market, as well as shuttle models from the Light Bus up to the PUV Modernization Program models.

• Honda unveiled crowd favorites: the Civic Type R, BR-V, City and CR-V.

• Isuzu presented an all-blue booth bannered by the mu-X RZ4E LS, the mu-X Luxe, the D-MAX RZ4E LS, a 4x4D-MAX, as well as its PUV offering.

• Jaguar had their E-PACE and F-PACE models.

• Land Rover brought their Discovery and the new Range Rover Velar.

• Mazda on the other hand, shared its 2019 lineup of award-winning models like the refreshed Mazda6, the more powerful MX-5 and its most luxurious vehicle to date, the flagship CX-9 Signature—all equipped with the updated SKYACTIV body, chassis, engine and driving dynamics technologies.

• Mitsubishi had their e-EVOLUTION CONCEPT, the same one that made its world premiere at the recent Tokyo Motor Show. The concept was joined by the all-new XPANDER, Montero Sport, Strada and the Mirage G4.

• Nissan, presented its Nissan Intelligent Mobility with their Terra, Navara and X-Trail, together with their iconic LEAF electric vehicle.

• SsangYong wowed the crowd with its first Korean-built contender for the pick-up segment, the Musso luxury utility vehicle.

• Suzuki offered their next-generation models like the all-new Swift, Dzire, Vitara and the much-awaited all-new Suzuki Jimny.

• Tata Motors redefined the small commercial vehicles category with their Euro-IV Super Ace Mint with a 1-ton payload.

• Toyota offered its latest concept car, the TJ Cruiser Concept, an MPV that carries design cues of an SUV and interestingly, the most talked about vehicles during the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show.

• Volkswagen showcased its BlueMotion Technology—a range of innovative energy-saving technologies including automatic start/stop—that significantly improves fuel economy of the Santana 1.5 MPI automatic transmission Trendline and Comfortline, the Santana GTS 1.5 MPI AT Comfortline and the Lamando 280 TSI DSG Comfortline and Highline.

CAMPI hopes that all the presentations and exciting offers at the 7th PIMS would spur excitement for the remainder of the year and perhaps jump start car buying spree among Filipinos currently worried about soaring inflation and rising fuel prices.