The weather has been funny this past week. Although the smog (supposedly a tantalizing cocktail of volcanic ash and vehicle emissions) seems to have subsided somewhat, each day mixes searing heat with pouring rain. Assuming none of you have gotten a cold by now, here are your five favorite stories from September 25 to October 1, 2023. This is the AutoFun Philippines Rearview Roundup! Chery’s EV trio From being the whipping boy of Chinese car hate locally, Chery Auto Philippines has now become on

Mitsubishi Motors is pulling out of the Chinese market. The Japanese automaker has already started final talks with its partner company, Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC). Mitsubishi said it is exiting the Chinese market because of sluggish sales, the rising popularity of electric vehicles (EV) and local brands stepping up their game. Other Japanese brands are also struggling against the homegrown competition, which may indicate that they must review their strategies for the Chinese market. Mitsu

The current-generation Mazda CX-5 has been in the market since 2017. The 5-seater crossover is reaching its 6th year on the market, putting it at the ripe age for a replacement. Most car manufacturers tend to replace their vehicles every five years to introduce new designs and technologies along with a new generation. Mazda has yet to reveal the launch date of the all-new model, but it has confirmed that the new CX-5 will be in showrooms alongside its brothers, the Mazda CX-50 and the Mazda CX-9

The best-selling car in 2022 was the Toyota RAV4, with a total of 1,016,000 units sold worldwide. But if current trends continue, another crossover may take the top spot by the end of the year. On top of that, this new challenger is made in America, Germany, and China and uses absolutely no fossil fuels. The Tesla Model Y electric vehicle (EV) was the best-selling car from January to March 2023, according to a May 2023 Motor1 report that used data from global automotive market research firm JATO

Two of Toyota’s most popular models in the U.S. are reportedly getting new looks by next year. American motoring publication Autoblog reported on March 2023 that redesigned versions of the Toyota Camry sedan and the Toyota RAV4 crossover may arrive as early as 2024. Both are expected to use revised versions of the brand’s TNGA-K platforms. As for styling, the Toyota Crossover EV Concept that was unveiled on December 2021 could provide the future design direction for the next RAV4. Hybrid-only RA

Hybrid Electric Vehicles are picking up in numbers and availability in the Philippines. With their obvious fuel efficiency advantage, and the lack of a Battery EV charging infrastructure at the moment, do you see yourself driving a Hybrid? Intro to Hybrid Cars What's a Hybrid Car? What are the Key Components of a Hybrid Car's Powertrain? Types of Hybrid Systems Pros and Cons of Owning A Hybrid Car Hybrid Cars in the Philippines Toyota Prius Toyota Camry Hybrid Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8V Hybrid To