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

Disclosure: Chery Auto Philippines lent us a Chery Tiggo 8 PRO 1.6T for eight days with a full tank of gas. Additional fuel and toll fees were paid by the writer using his personal money. Jetour Auto Philippines likewise invited the writer to an all-expense paid trip to China which included a visit of the Chery Auto manufacturing facilities. Something about the tag “Made in China” turns many car buyers off. Geopolitics aside, Chinese-built cars have long suffered from the negative impressions th

Disclaimer: Sojitz G Auto Philippines Corporation, the official importer and distributor of Geely in the Philippines, very kindly lent us a 2022 Geely Okavango Urban Plus for one week. It came with a full tank of gas and RFID cards with load. AutoFun Philippines paid for additional fuel, toll fees and a car wash. Being a race organizer and a race instructor is exhausting. Case in point, when the Philippine Autocross Championship Series (PACS) held its Danny Santiago’s “Track All You Want” event

Ford Philippines saved the best for last, just in time for its silver anniversary celebration on November 2022. The company said in a press statement that it is holding the final leg of its Ford Island Conquest (FIC) test drive on Nov. 18-20, 2022. It will be conducted at Bonifacio High Street, in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. As with previous legs, the FIC will feature a dynamic display and an on-road test drive, along with the chance to experience the off-road capabilities of the next-ge

The 2022 Mitsubishi Strada should be getting more kudos, given that the current generation model has been on sale in the Philippines since 2019. After all, the Japanese diamond star beast of burden offerings are clearly in the league of rivals such as the Ford Ranger, Isuzu D-Max, Mazda BT-50, Nissan Navara, and Toyota Hilux. The entry price at launch has also been competitive, from Php 1.165 million to Php 1.67 million. In addition, the automaker tossed in a Php 1.443 million to Php 1.76 millio

Just like the super-villainous and shape-shifting "Mystique", of the X-Men movie- fame series who can mimic the appearance and voice of any person at will, the Toyota Rush, in a classic sense does too, although only in terms of aliases, as the said car goes by any other name too. The fact is, in Japan, this car goes by the name of Daihatsu Terios during its flagship run there way back in 1997, then a couple of years flash by before it adopted the name Teruna, then onwards to Bego, then moving on