Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) may be the undisputed automotive sales leader in the country, but it isn’t resting on its laurels. The company announced in a September 2023 press statement that it has officially opened Toyota Ormoc, Leyte, located in Barangay San Pablo, Simangan. It serves as the Japanese carmaker’s 73rd dealership in the Philippines. With a total lot area of 15,000 square meters, the new dealer is also the largest under the Toyota Tacloban group. Its spacious showroom can displa

Chery Philippines has reached a new high for June as the Chinese automaker has surpassed its highest monthly record of 323 units sold, established in May 2023. Despite total industry sales decreasing by 5% from May, the automaker avoided the downturn and grew by 18%, securing the 10th spot in total sales rankings for June. Chery Tiggo 5x leading the charge Leading the brand’s sales success was the Chery Tiggo 5x; note that this is not yet even the pro hybrid variant, which is set to officially l

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: Jetour Auto Philippines paid for my airfare, transportation and accommodation for a week-long trip with other media practitioners to China, including a visit to Auto Shanghai 2023. Everybody in the Philippines is familiar with the Chery QQ from the mid to late 2000s. The dinky urban hatchback became the symbol of everything that was wrong with China-made cars. With shabby workmanship, questionable aftersales (if there were any) and non-existent warranties, the QQ was China’s first ma

Looking at the quality of vehicles in this particular segment, it seems that today’s crop of seven-seater MPVs is getting more upscale. Most MPVs on the market are now equipped with all kinds of tech and advanced safety features that used to be unheard of in their class, just like the updated Mitsubishi Xpander Cross, which will be locally launched by the end of this month. Based on the Mitsubishi Xpander Cross launched during the Gaikindo Indonesia International Motor Show last year, there’s mu

Can the Jaguar I-PACE, the iconic British sports car brand's first and only battery electric vehicle, go up to Tagaytay and back to Manila with a full charge? This was the challenge posed to us by Coventry Motors Corporation president Chris Ward. Full disclosure: Jaguar Philippines invited AutoFun.ph to a day trip to Tagaytay to have a taste of the I-PACE along with an early brunch at Dear Joe's coffee shop inside Crosswinds. This is my first time driving the Jaguar I-PACE, and my observations a