COVID-19 health crisis wipes out motoring events

The World Health Organization has warned that the COVID-19 pandemic is a “defining global health crisis of our time.” All around the world, countries are reporting more and more cases of people contracting and dying from the dreaded disease.

Here in the Philippine, s news of outbreaks has caused disruptions of public events, including some of the most anticipated auto shows, automotive launches and other motoring-related affairs. With the start of the “enhanced community quarantine” today expect more events to be cancelled. Here are some of the motoring-related events affected:

• The Philippines’ own premier car show, the annual Manila International Auto Show (MIAS), originally slated for April 2 to 5, has been postponed indefinitely.

• The March 2 inauguration of the Nissan-Mitsubishi Motor Philippines Inc. auto parts warehouse in Santa Rosa, Laguna has also been postponed due to the same Covid-19 issue.

• Due to the same concern, Mitsubishi Motor Philippines Corp. also postponed the Xpander Cross launch last March 13 in Glorietta 2 in Makati City, including the public mall display slated from March 13 to 15.

• Nissan Philippines also postponed its SuperZonic Nissan 370z drive on March 11 and 12 in Clark, Pampanga, which is supposed to welcome the arrival of the iconic Nissan 370z in the country.

• Toyota Motor Philippines’ first-ever exclusive Supra Track Day slated on March 14 at the Clark International Speedway was again cancelled. It had been postponed earlier due to the Taal Volcano eruption.

• Ford Philippines cancelled the launch of the new Ford Everest Sport today in its Ford Manila Bay dealership.

• Also today, the Autohub Group of Companies is supposed to hold a Chery dealership launch in General Mariano Alvarez in Cavite for its 405-sqm showroom (shared with the Foton brand).

• Also today, Suzuki Philippines cancelled the All-New XL7 and the S-Presso launch. The postponed unveiling at the Manila Marriott Hotel.

• Isuzu Philippines Corp. (IPC) also cancelled a Cebu drive event for its newly introduced D-MAX Boondock media drive last March 13 and 14.

• The 16th edition of Toyota Roadtrek, the most anticipated annual summer motoring media drive even t in the country, is among the latest casualty of the “enhanced community quarantine” being implemented all over Luzon island.

• The Dongfeng brand launch on March 31 at SMX has also been rescheduled.

• The new Mercedes Benz GLS SUV was supposed to be unveiled at the Mercedes-Benz Trophy at Sta. Elena last March 16 but both events were postponed.

• The BMW Motorrad Breakfast Ride to Lipa, Batangas intended to launch a new model on March 29 was also called off.