Resurgence is the word that perhaps best characterizes how GAC Motor Philippines is doing nowadays. Ever since multinational automotive distributor Astara took over local operations on December 2022, the Chinese car brand’s image and vehicle lineup have gotten a huge boost amid the surge of new cars from the People’s Republic. GAC Motor Philippines’ improved fortunes are also being helped by the recent appointment of highly respected industry veterans Franz Decloedt and Timmy De Leon, who serve

Disclosure: Astara Philippines, the official importer and distributor of GAC Motor in the Philippines, took us on a two-day media drive with the all-new 2024 GAC GS8 4WD. The company paid for all our meals and accommodation. GAC Motor Philippines invited us to go on a media drive to test out the all-new 2024 GAC GS8 4WD in the mountains of Tanay. The new variant of the sport-utility vehicle (SUV), which was launched on August 2023, delivers the same luxury and comfort as its front-wheel-drive co

Mazda Motor Corp. has announced that it will launch its first electric vehicle-only model in 2027. The Japanese automaker’s CEO, Masahiro Moro, stated in a recent interview in Tokyo that the new model is part of the brand’s effort to speed up its electrification efforts to keep it competitive globally. Mazda has already dabbled with electric vehicles (EVs) with the Mazda MX-30 crossover, launched as a hybrid vehicle with electric-only and rotary range-extender models also available. It also sell

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

Disclosure: GAC Philippines lent us the unit for seven days with a full gas tank and access to its two RFID cards with ₱1,000 worth of load. The words Chinese and luxury aren’t typically associated with one another, as most will see cars from mainland China as cheap and disposable. However, that statement is slowly changing as a new generation of Chinese vehicles shows they can keep up with established Japanese, European, and American brands. These new Chinese vehicles are like uncut gems ready

As the average Filipino family grows, the need for a car that can fit them all grows as well. In the past, the minimum requirement was five - dad, mom, two kids, and maybe a grandparent or the househelp. Today, the average Filipino buyer needs to consider at least six seats when buying a vehicle - dad, mom, at least two kids, the nanny, and possibly both grandparents. Not only that but because of the modern family's versatility in income - possibly from both a steady job and a family business -