Local automakers got a big shot in the arm after the Philippine government extended the timeframe of its ₱27-billion program to boost domestic car manufacturing. The Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) announced in a May 2023 press statement that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved a five-year extension to the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) Program. PSAC is composed of business leaders and experts across six main sectoral groups: Agriculture, Digital Infrastructur

Sojitz G Auto Philippines Corporation, the official distributor of Geely in the Philippines, further expands its dealership network by opening its 36th facility. The automaker has opened a new dealership in Rosario, La Union, officially marking the brand's presence in the province. It is also the company's first new dealer in 2023. The new facility will also reinforce Geely’s presence in the Ilocos region in addition to Geely Dagupan. Geely La Union sits on a 1,327-square-meter outlet that can f

It is Sunday once more, so we’re back with another edition of the AutoFun Philippines Rearview Roundup. Valentine’s Day is just a few days away and many of you will likely have some fun dates with and/or great gifts for a special someone (sanaol talaga). For those who want to take their mind off February 14, 2023 (which we single people call Tuesday), here are five of your favorite stories from February 6 to 11, 2023. Tasty EV treat? We start off with something sweet (unlike my love life). AutoF

The 2023 Toyota Innova is one of the most-awaited multi-purpose vehicles (MPV) in the Philippines. Debuting in Indonesia on November 2022, one of the headlines for the newest iteration of Toyota’s popular MPV is the dropping of the venerable 2.8-liter turbodiesel engine in favor of a hybrid drivetrain. Although there is no word yet on when the all-new Innova will arrive in the Philippines, it will face another large seven-seater with a mild-hybrid powerplant – the Geely Okavango. For this electr

One of the highly touted selling points of the Mitsubishi Xpander multi-purpose (MPV) and its tougher Xpander Cross sibling is its ride height. With 225 mm of ground clearance, the Xpander duo rivals many sport-utility vehicles (SUV). For comparison, the Toyota Avanza only has up to 190 mm. Given the abovementioned stats, it is obvious that the Xpander and Xpander Cross top the entry-level MPV (or even SUV) segment when it comes to ground clearance. This means that the Mitsubishi utility runner

The Ford Explorer is a popular vehicle that helped popularize the term ‘SUV’ and made it into a common acronym in today’s society. The 2022 Explorer is available in eight variants in the US. However, just the 2.3-L EcoBoost Limited variant is available in the Philippines. The 2022 Ford Explorer carries a 2.3-Liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine powered by gasoline fuel in a 10-speed automatic transmission. It produces an impressive 300 hp and 420 Nm torque at 3,500 rpm. With that powertrain spec