Setting up a car brand from scratch can be a daunting task. Aside from satisfying government and regulatory requirements, anyone planning to bring in a foreign brand will be faced with a number of difficult challenges along the way. That is why most automotive brands prefer to partner with a local distributor. Filipinos who run the distributorship are presumed to know the ins and outs of setting up the company, dealing with government agencies, hiring the right people, establishing systems and p

The weather is back to maelstrom-grade wind and rain this weekend, in light of two severe tropical storms that swung by the Philippines. The downpour (of hate) has also been relentless among Chinese carmakers, in light of Geely Philippines’ aftersales fiasco. Will there be sunshine after the rain for the car brands from the People’s Republic? This and many more are on this edition of the AutoFun Philippines Rearview Roundup. Here are your favorite stories from Aug. 28 to Sept. 1, 2023. BYD Phili

Recent rumblings in the automotive industry talk about Chinese brands changing management hands. And from what we've heard, there will be a few. But why do the principals feel the sudden need to come in lock, stock, and barrel to take over the Filipino-run local distributorships? Haven't they done enough to promote the brand? Did the distributors fall short of sales targets? Or have the distributors failed in the perception game despite the uptick in Chinese-made cars' build, tech and quality in

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

In 2022, Suzuki Philippines gave the public a preview of the Suzuki Ertiga hybrid at the 8th Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS). The arrival of the Suzuki Ertiga hybrid signaled the brand’s intentions for joining the electrification bandwagon in the country. However, at the motor show, Suzuki Philippines did not reveal when they would launch the hybrid multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) in the country, the number of variants, or its pricing. But thanks to a recent teaser image released by the a

If you want to do something exciting this weekend, the 2022 Toyota Gazoo Racing Vios Cup's final round will be on November 19, 2022, at Clark International Speedway. In a press statement, Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) said there will be three Circuit Championship classes, along with the Autocross Challenge races, in the long-running one-make racing event. “These race events will feature seasoned and celebrity racers along with influencers and members of the media who will either defend their pl