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

The affordable 7-seater segment is filled with choices, with the likes of the Mitsubishi Xpander, Suzuki Ertiga, Hyundai Stargazer and Toyota Veloz all having a significant stake in the market. While they are all great choices to consider, the Honda BR-V remains at the top in terms of its features and the power it brings to the table. It may be a touch more expensive than its rivals at around ₱1,090,000 to ₱1,410,000, but you get what you pay for. Before we start, when we say affordable 7-seater

Missed our best stories from last week? Don’t worry – Sundays are for the AutoFun Philippines Rearview Roundup! We picked the five stories from February 13 to 17, 2023 that you all liked the most. Return of the Tamaraw Like many of you, we were surprised to hear about the return of the Toyota Tamaraw following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s trip to Japan earlier this month. Toyota Motor Philippines said it will invest ₱4.4 billion for the new Tamaraw’s production. And it may be based on a conc

When the Mitsubishi Xpander multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) launched in the Philippines in 2018, it was arguably one of the very few cars in the segment that could topple the stranglehold of the Toyota Avanza. Fitted with a 1.5-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve inline-4 gasoline engine and mated to either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic transmission, it was as conventional as it gets with these compact MPVs, straying just enough from the norm to get people interested. Now, though, the market has shi

When it comes to small, seven-seater multi-purpose vehicles (MPV), you have as many choices in the market as there are stars. The segment remains highly popular in the Philippines because it combines the utility and practicality of seven seats with the size and ease of a compact sedan. There are established Japanese stalwarts like the Toyota Avanza (and its luxurious Veloz sibling), the Mitsubishi Xpander (and its rebadged Nissan Livina sibling), the Suzuki Ertiga, and the upcoming all-new Honda

Nissan Philippines introduces the All-New Nissan Livina 7-seat MPV with the following introductory prices for the four variants available in the local market: Php 1,029,000 for the E M/T Php 1,109,000 for the EL A/T Php 1,149,000 for the VE A/T Php 1,209,000 for the VL A/T. Geared for modern and on-the-go families and multitaskers, Nissan is targeting the Livina as a multi-purpose vehicle that will address its clientele's various needs and lifestyles. If it looks familiar, it's because the Nissa