This year’s auto industry rigodon has new participants. Astara Philippines, the multinational mobility distributor that handles the local operations of Peugeot and GAC Motor, announced in an August 2023 press statement that it has appointed two well-renowned executives in key leadership positions. Timmy Naval-de Leon, who was formerly head of corporate communications of the Ayala Corporation’s automotive arm AC Motors for nine years, is now Astara Phiippines’ new marketing director. Naval-de Leo

Electrification has taken over the Philippines in many ways. There are battery-electric vehicles that offer near-silent, zero-emission mobility, along with truly stunning performance. And for those who don’t want to join the electric revolution quite yet, there are the mild hybrids. These pertain to cars with regular internal combustion engines that have small battery packs to assist with vehicle functions. Unlike a full hybrid, a mild hybrid cannot operate on purely electric power alone. Chery

The Mazda CX-60 won’t be the only luxury crossover to take on European brands in the Philippines. Mazda Philippines president and CEO Steven Tan announced at the CX-60 launch on June 9, 2023 that the larger CX-90 will be in the country within the year. “The reason why we pre-launched it in the market today, number one, because the development team is here,” he said at a press conference. “Number two, the answer is very soon,” Tan replied, when asked about an exact timeframe for the launch. RWD c

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

Toyota has significantly contributed to the popularity and development of Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV) since it launched the original Toyota Prius in 1997. Over the last decade, the Japanese carmaker has also rolled out a wide range of hybrid cars in the Philippines that offer incredible fuel economy without the range anxiety that battery EVs still get because of insufficient charging stations. Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) announced in a January 2023 press statement that it is showcasing its

From Dwayne Johnson's (AKA The Rock) custom-designed Ford F-150, Lady Gaga's first-generation Ford SVT Lightning, Shaquille (Shaq) O'Neal's humongous and extreme Ford F-650, and Channing Tatum's old-school favorite Chevrolet 3100 pick-up truck, Hollywood celebrities ardent fascination for something huge and colossal like the pick-up truck had sparked a certain sense of curiosity largely inescapable to the public eye. Riding in full view along with Tinseltown's hottest districts, these jet-set ce