Auto firms make last-quarter salvo

The last quarter is usually the time car companies or even any other business outfits make their moves to catch up on their sales targets or even surpass them.
The October to December period understandably is one of the best times to sell as many people receive their yearend bonuses and other incentives during the period. It’s also the time people become generous with gifts and for those who can afford it, a car should be on top of the list for those who would like to give their partners an impact present.
For the consumer, the last quarter is also the best time to buy as car firms add a few more accessories and values to their vehicles to attract sales, not to mention the low down, low monthly promos for those buying on an installment basis.
Among the first outfits to introduce new attractive features in their vehicle models this season is Isuzu Philippines Corporation. Over the weekend IPC launched its special limited Christmas edition for the Crosswind and D-Max in an event called "Trailing Cebu with the Isuzu Crosswind and D-Max Cros-Max Edition." With members of the national and Cebu motoring media as participants, Isuzu staged the test drive in both the Southern and Northern parts of Cebu to highlight
the use of the I-Navi System or GPS navigation system for both vehicle models.
Yes, the D-Max and Crosswind are the first in their classes to make GPS navigation system available.
The introduction is very timely as families would make quite a number of out-of-town trips during the forthcoming long holidays and the GPS would be a handy and useful tool in their long drives. We shall discuss this interesting road adventure in more detail next week.
Meantime, the all-new Ford Fiesta has finally hit Ford showrooms nationwide also over the weekend . Starting October 1st, displays and test drives of the all-new Fiesta became available in both sedan and hatchback at all of Ford’s twenty-one dealerships in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
"The first batch of Ford Fiesta is here! Customers have been asking us about vehicle availability timing from the time we pre-launched the Fiesta last June through connectwithfiesta.com and the Fiesta Philippines Facebook portals," says Steven Tan, Vice President for Sales & Marketing, Ford Group Philippines. "We are happy to invite everyone to visit their nearest Ford showroom to test drive and are confident that customers will feel the Ford difference and be delighted with Fiesta’s stylish design, technological features and the drive experience," Tan added.
The globally popular and multi-awarded Ford Fiesta is Ford Philippines’ first global car under the One Ford strategy that has sold more than a million around the world since its introduction in Europe. The Fiesta also went on sale this summer in United States with rave reviews from the American consumers. Contributing factors to the success and popularity of the Fiesta are its fuel economy and low running costs relative to the major brands in category.
Showcasing stylish design and a multiple category-first safety and connectivity, the Fiesta will officially start delivery to customers in the Philippines on October 15.
The Ford Fiesta line-up starts at P670,000 for the Style 1.4L 4-door sedan with manual transmission, while the Fiesta Trend 1.4L sedan and hatchback with manual transmission is P685,000. The 1.6L Trend models featuring Ford’s 6-speed PowerShift automatic transmission, standard ESP and Hill Launch Assist is priced at P766,000 in both hatchback and sedan. The top-of-the-line Ford Fiesta Sport variant, equipped with a 1.6L 6-speed PowerShift automatic transmission as well as SRS airbags on driver and passenger sides and the In-Car Entertainment package of Voice Control with USB Connectivity and Bluetooth is priced at P816,000.
I had a chance to test drive the Fiesta in Phuket, Thailand during its Asean launch last August and I would say that the car should be in the shopping list of those looking for a practical, fuel efficient and stylish subcompact car.
Great Wall Cars, through its Philippine importer and distributor, Statemotor Corporation, has signified its intention to join this year’s "Car of the Year-Philippines" (COTY-P) organized by the Car Awards Group, Inc. (CAGI).
The Coty-P is an annual, rigorous competition involving both qualitative judging and instrumented performance tests that is open to all new cars and vehicle models available for purchase during the calendar year. Cars competing in Coty-P are scrutinized by Cagi’s 150 members, who come from various industry publications and media outlets, and test scores are audited at the end of the competition.
Cagi officers headed by its president Ferman Lao; Bam Olivares, VP-internal affairs; Kris Lim, corporate secretary; and Bess Zamora, treasurer, recently visited Statemotor Corporation offices to finalize Great Wall Cars’ participation as well as to present plans for this year’s awards including the test venue, technical criteria, and media support activities.
Statemotor Corp. president and CEO Allen Roxas confirmed that Great Wall will enter its Wingle pickup and Hover SUV in the competition. "Our company is looking forward to seeing our products, in particular our Wingle and Hover, go up against the best vehicles in their respective classes. I am confident that they will impress the members of the Philippine motoring media, who will serve as the judges," Roxas said.
The Wingle is the latest in a long line of award-winning pickups from Great Wall Motor Co. Ltd. (GW), China’s first privately-owned automaker listed in the Hong Kong stock market. For the last 11 years, GW’s Pickup series have consistently topped sales in the Chinese market, while its SUVs such as the Hover have proven to be bestsellers for six successive years. In terms of the international market, Great Wall has been the top exporter for nine consecutive years. .
In a related development, Great Wall also supported the 4th Auto Review Run for Road Safety and Courtesy last September 25 at the Fort in Taguig City as part of its advocacy for greater safety on the road.
Mr. Roxas said, "We are all stakeholders where road safety is concerned." This is why the company joined Auto Review in its promotion of safety, courtesy and road discipline in the country and its call for the government, private sector and the general public to undertake a concerted effort to avert the alarming increase in mortality rate due to road traffic accidents.
Land Rover Philippines. Motors. Inc., headed by Chairman and President Wellington Soong, launched the Rainforest Challenge (RFC) of Malaysia 2010 last Thursday, at the Land Rover Showroom along Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. in Makati.
RFC founder Luis Wee was in town to give details of the competition at the event.
I was in Cebu during the launch. I would have wanted to interview Luis whom I met in Kuala Lumpur during the RFC in 2003. Under Luis’ leadership, the RFC has become the "Olympics" of offroading with more than 100 competititors from various countries including the Philippines vying for the prestigious RFC trophies.
This affair also served as a welcome party for Team Land Rover Philippines who won the "First Island Entry Award" in the 2010 China - Sanya International 4x4 Rainforest Challenge.
Meantime, Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. is celebrating its 20th year this October.
Part of the celebration is the environmental forum that has sustainable mobility as topic on October 21 at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza.
For its part, Toyota Motor Philippines announced the launch of its Toyota Caravan during simple rites yesterday at the Lexus Manila facility inTaguig City yesterday.
On the motorcycle front, Suzuki Philippines, is bringing drag racing to a legal venue by staging the Suzuki Raider Breed Wars: The Quarter Mile Battle.
Aware of the dangers posed by illegal drag racing which is usually held in open roads at night, Suzuki organized the Raider Breed Wars to give drag race enthusiasts a legal and proper venue to showcase their skills.
The first leg kicked off last May 30, on the Old Airport Road Km 10, Sasa, Davao City, and attracted a crowd of more than 5,000 riders, racers and motorcycle enthusiasts from all over Mindanao. The second leg, held at the Clark Speedway, Pampanga, on July 4, was targeted at motorcycle fans from the northern Luzon area.
The third leg is scheduled for October 10, at the South Reclamation Project in Cebu City, and is expected to attract riders from the Visayas. The fourth leg will be on November 7, at the Batangas Racing Circuit in Batangas City, with competitors expected from southern Luzon and Bicol regions.
The top two finalists in each category from all the different legs are expected to vie for championship honors in the Final War to be held on December 5, in Manila.
Considered as the bestselling range in the Suzuki motorcycle line-up, the Suzuki Raider motorcycles have a strong following in the sporty underbone category, particularly among those who expect high-performance features in an affordable package.