AutoFun Philippines Rearview Roundup: Chinese carmakers beware? Japan, Korea strike back

It really is getting chillier.

And the climate is likely to grow colder as the holidays draw near. November is just around the corner, as many of you may have noticed.

But in the "Land of the Rising Sun," the automotive action has been hotter than ever because of the 2023 Japan Mobility Show (formerly called the “Tokyo Motor Show”). The rebrand is not a mere marketing exercise – Japan is gunning to stay ahead of the game in all forms of mobility. 

The stories from JMS, along with a new Korean brand coming to the Philippines, formed your favorite five in this edition of the AutoFun Philippines Rearview Roundup.

Here’s what happened from October 23 to 29, 2023.

KG Mobility Philippines is here!

The Covenant Car Company, Inc. (TCCCI) recently lost its distributorship of the Chinese MG brand to SAIC.

But the official importer and distributor of Chevrolet and Volvo moved right on to bring back longtime South Korean car brand SsangYong, now called KG Mobility Philippines.

With a diverse lineup of models, will TCCCI’s new baby fend off the onslaught of Chinese carmakers setting up shop locally?

READ: SsangYong reborn! TCCCI takes over Philippine distributorship of KG Mobility, sales start Oct. 2023

2023 JMS: The next Mitsubishi Delica

The Mitsubishi Delica is a name that may be more remembered for steering-converted imports, but it certainly isn't alien to the Philippines.

Elsewhere in the world, the hardy van has lived on, with its future iteration debuting as the Mitsubishi D:X Concept at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show.

Would you like to see the Delica officially brought to the Philippines?

READ: 2023 JMS: Mitsubishi D:X Concept unveiled as next-gen, PHEV Delica

The best of the electric revolution

The Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit has evolved from a small trade show to a crowd-drawer with great potential.

More and more people in the Philippines are looking closely at electric vehicles (EV). This is not only because fuel prices are shooting for the stratosphere, but also because the cars have become a lot cheaper thanks to government incentives.

Which of these six new EVs at the show did you like the most?

READ: 2023 PEVS: The 6 coolest new electric vehicles from the show

2023 JMS: A Prelude of things to come

Older car lovers like me can still remember the Honda Prelude sports coupe.

Positioned above the Integra, it had a larger body and a larger engine – a sort of two-door for the more senior Honda lover. And like the Integra, the Prelude nameplate is set for a revival in an electrified coupe that debuted at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show.

Perhaps Honda Cars can also bring back the S2000 while they’re at it?

READ: 2023 JMS: Honda Prelude Concept EV debuts, hinting at future nameplate revival

2023 JMS: Nissan’s wild and wicked Hyper-EV

The 2023 Japan Mobility Show certainly had no shortage of EVs.

But perhaps the most insane of them all was the Nissan Hyper Force concept, which sends over 1,300 PS through all four wheels. Touted as the next iteration of the positively prehistoric R35 GT-R, the Hyper Force shows a return to form for Nissan’s brilliant madness.

Looks like the electric revolution won’t overthrow speed from power.

READ: 2023 JMS: Could the 1,360-PS, AWD Nissan Hyper Force concept EV be the next GT-R?

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