Motoring Supplement 147

VOL. 9 ISSUE 147 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 - 19, 2016

EDGEDAVAO

www.edgedavao.net

Serving a seamless society

Pros and cons of buying a hybrid car P2 A Special Motoring Supplement

A COUNTRY OF CARS

IN S I D E

Oh no, 7 million vehicles and counting P8

Davao in the automotive industry’s brief history P6

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A COUNTRY OF CARS

PH auto sales boost with 22 percent growth

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

T

njb@edgedavao.net

he Philippine automotive industry reached another milestone this year with another record-high sales as of July.

The auto industry began the year with a 27.6 percent growth and is well on its way to matching or breaking that record by the end of the year.

Automotive website campiauto.org reported that based on records issued by the joint Marketing Committee of the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) and Truck Manufacturers Association

(TMA), sales for the month of July reached 29,967 units. Last month’s performance is 22 percent higher than July 2015 which did 24,569 units.

CAMPI also reported that sales from both Passenger Car (PC) and Commercial Vehicle (CV) segments increased compared with July 2015 results.

The PC segment’s sales attained 11,230 units; a humble 9.9 percent growth from 10,221 units of the same month last year. On the other hand, the CV segment managed a significant 30.6 percent surge year-onyear with 18,737 units ver-

Pros and cons

sus 14,348 units in 2015.

The same report also bared that within the CV segment, all categories exceeded sales records from July 2015. Category 2 (LCV) accomplished the biggest increase with 36.2 percent with 11,982 units from 8,798 units in July last year.

While Category 5 (Heavy Duty Trucks and Buses) grew 34.6 percent with 171 units from 127 units. Category 1 (AUV) was able to achieve a 22.5% climb with 5,767 units coming from 4,709 units.

“With appealing financial plans and continuous marketing efforts, we were

able to outshine our record in July 2015. A chunk of last month’s sales records was due to arrival of the past month’s demands. We expect to keep up with the market for the second half of 2016,” CAMPI President Atty. Rommel Gutierrez said in the campiauto.org report.

With year-to-date automotive sales reaching 197,448 units, Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation remains the top performer with 43.63% market share, followed by Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation with 18% share.

Ford Motor Company Phil-

ippines, Inc. is at third spot with 9.88% market share.

At fourth place is Isuzu Philippines Corporation with 7.77% and sitting at fifth is Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. with 6.51% market share.

In 2015, all categories had incredible sales performance. Passenger cars posted nearly 20% increase from 7,200 units in January 2015 to 8,632 units. Collectively, the Commercial Vehicles grew by 32% coming from 11,462 units to 15,176 units for the same period comparison.

Category 1 (AUVs) grew from 3,542 units in January

of last year to 4,780 units; while Category 2 (SUVs) had the least growth of 29% with 9,678 units from 7,483. Category 3 (Light Duty Trucks and Buses) also improved with 392 units sold having 42% boost. Category 4 (Heavy Duty Trucks and Buses) had a 53% lift with 156 units sold. Most notably, Category 5 (Heavy Duty Trucks and Buses) led the growth in Commercial Vehicle sector with 188% increase; from 59 units sold in same period last year to 170 units, mainly because of the ongoing constructions and developments around the metro.

of buying a hybrid car

H

ybrid cars got their name because they use two engine technologies- a standard gasoline powerplant and an electric motor which gets its power from a rechargeable battery pack.

It was developed as an environmentally friendly vehicle that releases low carbon emissions and has improved gas mileage. But even so, there are pros and cons of owning a hybrid car.

Even though hybrid cars have been dubbed the “future of the automotive industry”, here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of owning a hybrid car:

More fuel efficient

Hybrid cars are some of the most fuel efficient cars today, with most topping the best fuel efficiency ratings in their segment. The

Less maintenance cost

hybrid Toyota Camry 2.5-Liter, for example, has an estimated mileage of 18.3 km/L as compared to a regular model with the same powertrain which is rated at 11.8 km/L; both tested in highway conditions.

That would easily make the hybrid model 35.5-percent more fuel efficient.

Lower carbon emissions

Vehicle emissions account for over half (51%) of carbon dioxide produced worldwide. A great advantage of a hybrid car is its lower carbon footprint. According to the US Department of Energy, a typical hybrid car releases 57 lbs of CO2 over a 100 mile trip compared to 87 lbs of CO2 when covering the same distance. This impressive reduction is mainly because of how

efficient these cars use their fuel.

Quieter engine

If you want a quieter cabin, then a hybrid is the way to go. A New York Times review pointed out that these battery-powered motors sound something between a “whir

and a whisper.” Hybrids can be too quiet, especially at low speeds, and can therefore pose risks to pedestrians who are crossing the road.

A study by the NHTSA confirmed this, saying that these cars are too quiet for blind people to hear them coming.

While the initial reaction to hybrid cars was that they would have more expensive repair costs (such as maintenance of the battery), this was proven incorrect.

Battery packs from Toyota were tested to last more than 180,000 miles. The cost of these nickel-metal hydride batteries are also dropping. For example, battery packs for 2005-2011 Honda Civic hybrids averaged $1,700, as compared to $2,200 for 2009 models, according to a report from Edmunds. Regular maintenance costs for specific components are almost equal to a conventional car.

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Increase in car sales recorded in Q1 of 2016

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ adlopez0920@gmail.com

C

ar sales since the start of 2016 has been on the upscale as industry players reported significant increases on the monthly basis since January until June of this year.

The Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. or CAMPI said the country’s automotive industry has surpassed its highest monthly and first semester sales record.

The high figures on sales are based on a joint report of the CAMPI and Truck Manufacturers Association or TMA. Both groups said around 32,993 units of cars were sold in the month of June this year, a figure which is 36% higher com-

Pros and cons P2

pared to 24,185 car units sold in the same month in 2015.

“Last month’s sale is contributed to 27% growth for first semester total sale of 167,481 units,” CAMPI said in a report posted in its website www.campiauto. org/.

The report also told of the increase in sales in both passenger cars (PCs) and commercial vehicles (CVs) during the first quarter of 2016.

“Passenger cars sales achieved 11,951 units with a growth of 21.5 percent.

For year-to-date comparison, PC segment has reached 62,560 units and grew 18.5 percent over the first half of 2015,” CAMPI said.

High resale value Because hybrids are less susceptible to damage over time, they are also likely to have a higher resale value. A 2009 Toyota Prius 1.8-Liter 6-Speed Automatic is priced at P930,000 in one of Carmudi’s listings.

Compare this to the price of the base model of the Toyota Prius-C with standard equipment which is pegged at P1,537,000. This equates to a 60.5-percent value retention for the Prius over a span of 6-years (provided the same equipment was installed for both year builds).

Disadvantages of buying a hybrid car More expensive Because its engine is constructed differently from other production car models, you can easily predict that buying a hybrid car will be more expensive. In the US, a hybrid Honda Civic with a 1.5-Liter engine has a MSRP of $27,335, compared to the top-ofthe-line Honda Civic EX-L whose price starts at $24,340.

Hard to recharge outside cities

In the Philippines, hybrid cars have yet to significantly penetrate the market. This is partly due to a lack of technological facilities, especially recharging stations. The first commercial hybrid charging station in the coun-

Commercial vehicles on the other hand boosted with 46.7 percent growth with 21,042 units sold last month (June), the group added.

CV’s total sales reached 104,921 units for the first half of this year which is a 33.3 percent gain the same period last year.

“All segments within CV performed well but it was Category 5 (Heavy Duty Trucks and Buses) that grew remarkably with 91.1 percent with 193 units sold,” CAMPI said.

Increased sales and continuous demands for heavy duty trucks is attributed to the ongoing infrastructure developments in the country, the group pointed out.

“Other categories have also garnered increases: Category 1 (AUV), 6,185 units sold or 41.3 percent over the same month last year; Category 2 (LCV) attained 13,689 units or 49 surge; Category 3 (Light Trucks) accomplished 661 units or 41.5 rise; Category 4 (Trucks and Buses) attained 314 units or 48.1 incline.”

In the same report, CAMPI’s president, Atty.

Rommel Gutierrez was quoted saying: “There has been a sustained growth since the start of the year.

We remain confident in achieving our initial target for the year with continued supply of vehicles, attractive promos and affordable financing scheme, among

try was just launched in 2013 by Meralco and is ready to serve only those who are in Metro Manila. Recharging your hybrid car outside the Metro may prove difficult. This means no long drives.

others.”

Of the top brands in car and vehicle industry in the country, Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation is still the leading performer with 43.4 percent market share.

Landing in the second spot is Mitsubishi Motor Philippines Corporation with 18.1 percent; Ford Motor Philippines in the third place with 10 percent share; Isuzu Philippines Corporation lands at fourth position with 7.9 percent; and Honda Cars Philippines occupies the fifth spot with 6.7 percent market share.

CAMPI was established on May 16, 1995 with the aim of promoting interests in the automotive industry in the country with the end in view of developing a via-

0-100 kph in more than 6 seconds and has a top speed of 209 kph. Its fuel economy stands at roughly 25

Examples of hybrid cars in the Philippines The following are some of the best examples of hybrid cars, their specifications and performance.

Toyota Prius C

This fully hybrid subcompact hatchback has been around since 2011, and is the third bestselling nameplate in the world. It has been accepted quite well in markets such as California. It runs on 1.5-Liter 16-valve 2NZFXE engine with electric assist motor that shoots up a combined 99 horsepower (73 hp gasoline engine, 60 hp electric motor) and 111Nm of torque (gas) or 170 Nm of torque (electric). It was rated to have a fuel economy of 24 km/L and comes with a P1.537 million price tag for its base model.

Honda CR-Z

Honda CR-Z

A sports compact with hybrid technology can easily go places. This road runner uses a 1.5-Liter i-VTEC engine with an integrated motor assist (IMA) hybrid system and lithium ion battery which pumps 134 horsepower and 190 Nm of torque (for the manual variant). Impressively, it can accelerate from

Toyota Prius C

ble domestic industry.

The group’s thrust is being carried out through its active participation in the formulation of government policies, programs, regulations and standards for the automotive industry.

CAMPI is widely recognized by government and private sector groups as the lead organization in the Philippine automotive industry.

The group’s advocacies include the enhancement of automotive industry competitiveness; motor vehicle development program; standardization and harmonization of standards in Philippine automotive industry; data sharing; and the conduct of Philippine International Motor Shows.

km/L, which is way ahead of its segment. At P1,390,000 for its standard base model, it is surely a steal.

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Motor show gathers 17 top car manufacturers in PH

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

A

adlopez0920@gmail.com

round 17 top car manufacturers in the Philippines converged in a five-day Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS) staged at the World Trade Center in Pasay City starting last Wednesday, September 14 until September 18.

This year’s PIMS is the 6th staging that was ably facilitated by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturer of the Philippines, Inc. or CAMPI. “PIMS is proof that the automotive industry remains robust these past few years. We are excited to stage it this year as we lead Filipinos to a future of better mobility and transportation, and contribute to the country’s progress,” said CAMPI President Atty. Rommel Gutierrez, in a statement posted in the group’s website.

This year’s 6th PIMS carries the theme: “Steer the Future” with the tagline “CAMPI: Driving Progress, Empowering Society.”

CAMPI said the motor show will also highlight the automotive industry’s valuable contributions to the advancement of the country and its economy.

Participating top car manufacturers and distributors include BAIC, BMW, Daewoo Bus, Foton, Honda, Isuzu, Jeep, KIA, Lexus, Maz-

da, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi Motors, Nissan, Peugeot, Suzuki, Toyota, and Volkswagen.

Car manufacturers and distributors will showcase their latest vehicles and automotive technologies during the five-day event.

CAMPI said that last year, the automotive industry surpassed its sales target of 272,000 vehicles when its members were able to sell a total of 288,609 units.

“This year, CAMPI is confident of achieving its initial target on the back of continued supply of vehicles, attractive promos, and affordable financing schemes, among other economic indicators,” the group said in a statement.

Apart from witnessing the various showcases on the best and the latest vehicles from top brands, show goers to the event will also be thrilled by other activities, to include the CAMPI Brand Heritage Exhibit, car club conventions, test drives, drift box activity, car wash activity, and kiddie day care activities.

“These are perfect for car enthusiasts, prospective car-buyers, automobile business owners, and anyone who wants to be in the know with the Philippine automotive scene,” CAMPI said.

This year’s 6th PIMS is co-presented by Total Philippines Corporation.

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Davao in the automot industry’s brief histo

By Antonio Figueroa

B

efore the automotive sector started to make gain a foothold in the country as an industry, public means of transport was originally dependent on rails and wooden wheels. Train travel to Dagupan from Manila was by railway system, which was opened in 1892 and owned by the Manila Railway Company Limited (MRC), the precursor of the Philippine National Railways (PNR), created in 1917.

In downtown Manila, the king of the road was the electric tram known as tranvia, which was introduced in 1905. Like trains, this mode of transportation used a railway system. But in 1904, the French-made Richard Brasier roadster became the first ever car to travel on a

Philippine street; it was a 9-horsepower, 2-cylinder unit owned by Estrella del Norte, a trading company.

The first American-made automobile did not ply the Philippine street until 1907 when Emanuel Morris Bachrach, a Russian Jew émigré to the United States, brought a Ford car. He arrived in the country six years earlier to open up a small business but decades later would own Bachrach Motor Company, the largest supplier of American and European vehicles in the islands.

Encouraged by the strong demand for Ford autos from American, European, and affluent Filipino families, Ford Model T was introduced in 1913, and sixteen years later Henry Ford, the inventor, founded the Pilipinas Ford Car

Works, Inc. Many of the Davao clients of this pioneering car firm in the third decade of American rule were plantation owners from Davao.

First Davao car Acknowledged as the first person to buy a car in Davao when it was still a town was Manila-born Feliciano Corcuera Iñigo, Sr. He decided to resettle in Davao after accepting the position of general agent for Compañia Maritima, a firm founded in 1894 by the Fernandez Brothers (Ramon, Jose and Vicente) that was servicing the Manila-Davao route monthly.

Part of his job was to handle cargo transactions and the land acquisitions for the shipping outfit.

Mike Iñigo, grandson of haciendero Felicia-

no, described the el T sedan broug of the 1920’s. It h side windows, an a front windshield Among the nativ much so that it w round-trip from to Santa Ana, whe The car met it son of Feliciano, b replaced by a B crossing of Maga and Claveria (Cla ing to the Iñigo f bile was not just the annual New Y

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tive ory

car as a four-door Ford Modght to Davao in the early part had a canvas top but without nd was a five-seater. It sported d and back canvas with glass. ves, it became a curiosity so was rented occasionally for a San Pedro, the town proper, ere the old pier was found. ts first accident when Carlos, bumped the Rizal statue (now Bonifacio monument) at the allanes (Antonio Pichon Sr.) aro M. Recto) streets. Accordfamily tradition, the automoa conversation piece during Year’s Day luncheon gathering

at the Bago Inigo Estate, it was also used in fetching relatives who were attending the event.

The car, having completed its usefulness, was, Mike related, ‘was just dumped as junk at the back of the San Pedro ancestral home. I still remember sitting in that old corroded car pretending to drive.

Nostalgic memories.’

Transports galore Outside the carabao-drawn sled locally known as balsa, the first wheel-driven mode of transportation that was introduced in the 1850’s, was the single-passenger, two-wheel carriage, a canopied rig which was the favorite of the Spanish nobles. The more elaborate four-wheel calesa had a wide seat, a folding top, and upholstery.

Junep Ocampo, in Paglalakabay: Transportation in the Philippines (2010) identified three other pre-American colonial transports, namely the victoria (a light four-wheeled horse-drawn carriage with a collapsible hood, seats for two passengers, and an elevated driver’s seat in front), duquesita (obviously for duke and duchess), and the four-passenger quilez.

The two-wheeled tartanilla that was popular in Cebu

was introduced in 1899, and 11 years later, the tranvia in Manila, owned by the Manila Electric and Railway Company (MERALCO). Three years later, in 1914, Albert Louis Ammen, a former American serviceman, founded the Ammen Transport Company (ALATCO) and converted a single truck as a passenger bus that served the Iriga-Naga route in Bicol region.

According to the Philippine Review magazine, by 1916, there were already 128 US and 26 European car brands in the islands. Four years later, the auto calesa (AC), drawn by Harley-Davidson motorcycles was introduced; it was first and was big enough for six persons, including the driver. It replaced the carabao-drawn carreton, the kariton, which was constructed with wooden wheels.

The American Chamber of Commerce Journal reported that by 1937, using industry sources, for the first time, there were over 1,000 cars registered in Davao, where no more than a score of cars were registered a few years ago, and the reason for this were the new plantation, town, provincial, and national road constructed. In contrast, official documents show, only 521 cars were actually registered in Davao in 1929. A decade later, another 989 cars were entered in the list of the Philippine Transportation Commission (PTC).

By bus to Davao On July 12, 1939, the Manila Railway Company expanded its motor transport operation by opening a motor vehi-

cle service in Mindanao.

This was made possible after the firm acquired the Cotabato Valley Transportation Company, Inc., with principal operations in Cotabato.

Initially, it opened the Cotabato-Dansalan route, the Cotabato-Davao line, and the Cagayan de Misamis-Davao course via Malaybalay, Bukidnon.

Arturo G. Corpuz, in ‘The Colonial Iron Horse: Railroads and Regional Development in the Philippines 1875-1935’, explained: ‘The Mindanao Motor Line eventually covered the five provinces of Cotabato, Lanao, Davao, Bukidnon, and Oriental Misamis. Only a 92-kilometer gap between Iligan and Cagayan prevented the line from providing full circuit service within Mindanao.’

After the war, with the rise of Davao as a progressive region, the demand for buses in commuting and the transport of cargo to and from adjacent areas grew exponentially. In the decades to come, names like Cotabato Bus Company (CBC), Panes Liner, and Yellow Bus Line, to name a few, became a byword among travelers. Today, the more popular bus names are Bachelor, Metro Shuttle, Rural Transit, Mindanao Star, and Gold Valley.

Floirendo’s role Although the distribution of Ford vehicles in the country dates back to 1907, production of cars under the Ford Philippines Corporation (FPC) did not start until 1967 at its original assembly plant in Sucat, Parañaque City. One of those who contributed to the rise of the Ford brand in Mind-

anao was the late Davao mogul Don Antonio O. Floirendo, Sr., a mining engineer who founded the Tagum Development Corporation (TADECO), a sprawling agricultural estate.

A feature article that came out in Edge Davao talks about the mogul’s success: ‘Floirendo’s business rise, however, did not start with farming. After the war, as a Manila-based trader, he joined a group of Filipino war-surplus entrepreneurs led by the late Manila Hotel owner, Emilio Yap, in Guam. The exposure to the nuances of lot bidding opened his mind to the idea of trying his luck in second-hand articles, especially in the buy-and-sell of war materiel equipment.

‘In one of his Guam sorties, Floirendo, who was born in Bauang, La Union, met by chance retired American army colonel Gerry E. Shingledecker, later Ford Motor Company’s manager in Manila, who broached the idea of opening a dealership either in the Visayas or Mindanao, which he instinctively accepted.

‘Months after the US grant of independence to the Philippines, Floirendo got a letter from Shingledecker informing him that FMC had agreed to let go of Mindanao and the Visayas from the restricted Philippine franchise of Mantrade, then known as the Manila Trading and Supply Company, owned by a group of Manila-based American traders.

‘When the Floirendo-owned Davao Motors Sales (DAMOSA) Showroom, which sourced its Ford vehicles from Ger-

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many, was opened at Banquerohan (as published in the 1949 Ford advert) Public Market in 1948, Shingledecker, originally based in Detroit, Michigan, USA, and now based in Manila, personally graced the event.’

Going high stakes In the post-war years, the automotive industry took a big leap with the entry of car manufacturers from Italy, Japan, China, Malaysia and other countries. To bolster the industry, special privileges were extended to investors wanting to manufacturer cars in the country, in the same way that local producers of transports were given incentives.

Public utility vehicle (PUV) manufacturers sprouted in various regions, leaving us the iconic brands such as Sarao, Lawin, and Francisco, among others.

In the automotive industry, the country was able to produce the luxurious Aurelio, the first Filipino-made supercar in history, which the media described as ‘roaring with Filipino pride, design, power, performance, and speed.’ It is manufactured by Factor Aurelio Automobile based in San Pedro, Laguna.

Next year (2017), the country will parade its first locally assembled sedan named ‘Parac’, after the first syllables of its creators. It is being manufactured by Chariot Motors, a jeepney assembly company in Bacolod City.

The auto is registered by World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the design is patented in the US under the name of the inventors.

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Nissan GT academy 2 names, 6 filipinos to race to Silverstone, UK

N

issan Philippines Inc. (NPI) has announced the six Filipinos who qualified to compete in the Nissan GT Academy Race Camp Week in Silverstone, U.K.

Out of the 20 finalists who participated in the Nissan GT Academy Season 2 National Finals held last September 6 and 7 at the Megatent in Pasig and Glorietta Activity Center in Makati, the six participants who emerged as top finalists are: Jan Millard Lacuna, Elysse T. Menorca, Richard Dean D. Jose, Mervin John Mallen, Kim Jiger A. Chong, and Francisco F. Adriano IV. In a speech, NPI President and Managing Director Ramesh Narasimhan said, “This is the second year Nissan has democratized motorsports by making the Nissan GT Academy more accessible to Filipino gamers nationwide. This time, the Live Events held in key cities drew over 21,000 trials and even allowed a female participant to be drafted to the top 20.”

“In its last two days of competition, Nissan witnessed how the finalists went through grueling tasks that made each one of them tougher, stronger, and even more competitive, with each one getting more and more ready for the Race Camp Week in Silverstone in UK which starts on October,” he added.

The Nissan GT Academy National Finals this year consisted of a fourpart skills test spread into two days of competition. On day one, each of the contestants went through vigorous physical challenges like the sergeant jump, planking, push-ups and the bleep test. This was followed by a driving challenge, supervised and mentored by none other than the famed George Ramirez, who is the official Nissan GT Academy driving instructor. The second day involved pod time attack challenges where each of the players were rated according to their best lap time, consistency, and super pole time. Finally, on the last leg of the competition was a panel interview by motoring journalists as part of the communication and personality challenge for the participants. Each of the player’s scores from all the connected parts of the two-day competition determined the six qualifiers.

The top six will then compete against each other and against finalists from Australia, Indonesia, Mexico, North Africa, and Thailand at the Race Camp Week in Silverstone.

The Nissan GT Academy champion coming out from the Race Camp in Silverstone will then undergo the Nissan Driver Development Program (NDDP), where he or she will be fully trained to finally become an international race car driver to professionally run under the proud banner of Nissan.

Narasimhan expressed confidence on this year’s candidates.

“This season saw a more diverse batch of contenders, with a female finalist joining the top six. Nissan is looking forward to celebrating another Filipino Nissan GT Academy Champion soon.”

L-R Jan Millard Lacuna, Richard Dean D. Jose, Elysse T. Menorca, Francis

Oh no, 7 million

vehicles and counting

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

I

adlopez0920@gmail.com

F WE go by the record of the Land Transportation Office (LTO), as of July 2016, there was a total of 7,683,843 vehicles registered in the Philippines.

Of these, 996,872 were registered for the first time from January to July, this year , in addition to 4,040,714 units whose registration were renewed, for a total of 5,037,586 registered vehicles during the period in review. Add to these 2,646, 257 more vehicles that the LTO recorded in its books under “miscellaneous transactions” and you’ll arrive at the 7,683,843 as the grand total of registered vehicles. “Miscellaneous transactions” include transfer of ownership, change engine, release chattel mortgage, among others, according to Macario “Bong” Gonzaga, assistant regional director of LTO 11 based in Davao City.

As expectedly, No. 1 region in number of vehicles registered in the country is the National Capital Region (NCR), with 1,668,852 vehicles, accounting for 22 percent of the nation’s registered car population.

For the record, Davao is the country’s sixth fastest-growing region as shown in the increase of vehicle registrations in the entire country from 2015 to 2016.

The LTO said that halfway through 2016, around 238,336 newly registered vehicles were already recorded in the NCR in addition to the 1,103,685 renewals and 326,831 vehicles registered under “miscellaneous transactions”.

High figures were also recorded in Davao region during the first two quarters of 2016 with 54,814 new registrations and 175,218 renewals.

In the first half of this year, Davao region has 264,774 registered vehicles if we add the number of newly registered for the year, the total renewals and the number of vehicles with miscellaneous registrations that numbered to 34,742.

The Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR) posted the highest number in increase of 20.03 percent, followed by Region VI with 10.64 percent; Region V with 10.20 percent; Region IX with 8.82 percent; Region I with 8.43 perccent; and Davao Region with 8.41 percent.

The number is expected to increase by the end of the year considering that the report for 2016 only carried the figures from January to July.

Steady increase in sales in vehicles is considered the main factor in the expected

rise of registrations this year.

Last July, the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. or CAMPI said the country’s automotive industry has surpassed its highest monthly and first semester sales record and reported the recent high figures on sales both in the automotive and truck segments in the industry.

CAMPI said around 32,993 units of cars were sold in the month of June this year, a figure which is 36% higher compared to 24,185 car units sold in the same month in 2015.

The group added that commercial vehicles, that include trucks boosted with 46.7 percent growth with 21,042 units sold in June.

A total of 104,921 CV units were already sold during the first half of this year which is a 33.3 percent gain the same period last year.

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E-Vehicles: The future of PH auto industry?

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO njb@edgedavao.net

P

lug and go. That’s how you describe the next generation of cars that will roam the roads of the Philippines—from the urban metropolis to the country sides.

It’s called e-vehicles and quite simply, they run on electric power. These days, don’t be surprised to see a number of these vehicles running on the roads— mostly at mall complexes shuttling mall goers from malls to nearby villages.

Their predecessors are the cars in golf courses where strict compliance to environment standards is being implemented.

To date, two types of electric car have been produced for the mass market: a battery electric vehicle (BEV) is solely dependent on batteries for power, while a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) uses a combination of rechargeable batteries and a conventional engine as backup.

In the Philippines, the battery electric vehicle (BEV) industry has set an ambitious program of having a nation where the use of electric vehicles is highly promoted, encouraged, and supported by government and society. The industry hopes to develop a transportation landscape that is

one with the environment, ecologically and economically.

Along this course, a group called the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP) aspires for the establishment of a national development program for electric vehicles that is anchored on the existing Motor Vehicle Development Program for the automotive industry.

EVAP’s program, launched in 2013, is to be implemented in four (4) phases of within a ten-year-period. The first phase (2013) is the launch of the program, including technology upgrading needed by the industry; the second phase (2014 to 2015) involves the build up of the local market and enhancement of its production capacity; the third phase (2016 to 2018) will be for local and export market expansion, together with horizontal and vertical integration with the local automotive industry; and the fourth phase (2019 to 2023) will be the full integration, regional

and global, developmental evolution in technological advancement and market size up.

According to the website of EVAP, the industry seeks topursue operational and regulatory reforms; strengthen the automotive policy environment; address industry supply chain gaps; and implement market development strategies.

At the moment, there are 28 firms engaged in the manufacturing of various electric vehicles Philippines.

Complementing these

E-Vehicles P11

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Fasten your seatbelt, please!

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

P

adlopez0920@gmail.com

ersons in authority, particularly those in charge of keeping our roads safe for travel are focusing their eyes on drivers and passengers violating the provisions of Republic Act 8750, or the Seatbelt Use Act. “I was apprehended twice violating this law,” said Edwin, an engineer who drives his own Mitsubishi car daily from home to his place of work.

He said he was caught

E-Vehicles P9

companies are 11 parts and component manufacturers and seven importers. The industry currently provides employment to 14,840 individuals. As the government continues to support the use of electric vehicles, the industry is expected to grow in the coming years.

With sustainable development as one its main thrusts, the government has been promoting the use of electric vehicles across the country, including as a form of public transportation. Executive Order 488 (s. 2006) was issued to support the manufacturing of e-vehicles, as well as to further reduce the country’s fossil fuel consumption. This issuance reduced the tariff rate for e-vehicle components to zero, thereby allowing e-vehicle manufacturers to import components at a more affordable price.

In Metro Manila, major cities have started to make use of e-vehicles to transport local residents and transient workers. Electric jeeps and electric tricycles are also getting more and more common in the country’s major business districts and urban areas. The establishment of “green cities” is also expected to generate higher demand for e-vehicles for public transportation.

According to EVAP, the steady increase in the number of tourist arrivals in the Philippines has led to an increased demand for environmentally sound transport services. Resorts and local government units

driving with unfastened seatbelt in 2001.

“That was a rush hour in Toril area. I was unaware my seatbelt was unfastened, then, a personnel from the Land Transportation Office (LTO) immediately caught me with such violation. The windshield at my side was open and he saw me instantly,” Edwin narrated.

His second apprehension took place in 2014 some-

where in Tibungco area.

RA 8750 or the Act requiring the mandatory compliance by motorists of private and public vehicles to use seat belt devices and requiring vehicle manufacturers to install seat belt devices in all their manufactured vehicles was approved on August 5, 1999.

The law was enacted anchored on the policy of the state which is “to secure and safeguard its citizenry, particularly the passengers and drivers of private and public motor vehicles, from the ruinous and extremely injurious effects of vehicular accidents.”

Based on said policy, the law says the state “shall pursue a more proactive and preventive approach in order

to secure the safety of the passengers and drivers at all times with the mandatory enforcement of the use of seat belt devices by the drivers and front seat passengers of private and public motor vehicles.”

Section 4 of RA 8750 made the use of seat belts mandatory, stating: “For their own safety, the driver and front seat passengers of a public or private motor vehicle are required to wear or use their seat belt devices while inside a vehicle of running engine on any road or thoroughfare: Provided, That for private vehicles, except for jeeps, jeepneys, vans, buses and such other private vehicles as may be determined in the Implementing Rules and Reg-

ulations (IRR), front and back seat passengers are likewise required to use their seat belt devices at all times.”

Records released by LTO states the agency already collected a total fine of P58,831,386.63 from violators to RA 8750 nationwide, from January to June of this year.

In Davao region, fines collected in the same period already reached P2,577,750.

Increase in the number of drivers or passengers apprehended in violation to RA 8750 also increased during the first half of this year compared to 2015.

In the entire country, a total of 54,298 individuals were already apprehended violating the law from January to June of

this year, or a 46.43% increase from the 37,082 apprehensions made in 2015.

Increase in number of violators also increased in Davao region, from 1,849 apprehensions in 2015 to 2,048 from January to June of 2016, or a 10.76% increase.

Fines for violating RA 8750 include P100 but not to exceed P1,000 fine for first violation; P200 but not to exceed P2,000 fine for second violation; and P500 but not to exceed P5,000 fine and suspension of driver’s license for a period of one week for the third and succeeding violations.

Traffic enforcers are calling the public to observe traffic rules and always buckle up and fasten your seat belt.

Toyota Motor Philippines topped the ranking (for the third year running), 45 percent of the car buying population is composed of women, a proportion that’s steadily increasing.

With women now walk-

ing into new car showroom floors regularly, the car buying attitude has shifted as well. For instance, women rarely visit the showroom alone—93 percent of them visit with family members. This is just one

takeaway in the newest JD Power CSI survey. You can check out the others through the infographics below.

It might now be a good time for car brands and dealers to take note.

Nearly half of new car buyers are women, but they’re not satisfied

have started to invest in e-vehicles, such as electric tricycles and electric jeeps, to reduce carbon emission, to preserve the natural beauty of the environment, and to provide transportation to the growing number of tourists.

The e-cars trend is now gaining momentum due to heightened environmental awareness. E-vehicles can be found in key tourist spots such as Davao, Boracay and Palawan.

According to a report on the fast-expanding electric car market by Bloomberg, within six years, the cost of owning an electric car will be cheaper than purchasing and running a petrol or diesel model.

The Bloombergreport says that even if petrol or diesel driven cars improve their fuel efficiency over the coming years, the cost of owning an electric car— buying it and running it— will be below that of conventional vehicles by 2022.

The increased sale of electrically-powered cars is seen as an important element in the fight against climate change. CO2 emissions from vehicles fueled by petrol and diesel cause a build-up of greenhouse gases and, especially in cities, pollution from exhausts causes serious damage to health.

Given that aggressive pitch for a safer environment plus consumer tolerance for transport costs, the e-cars are seen to be the road kings of the future especially for a country that’s too vulnerable to rising oil prices like the Philippines.

W

ho says it’s the men who decide on what car to buy? According to the latest JD Power Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI), that’s beginning to change. In the latest CSI survey, where

S12 CARS EDGEDAVAO

A Special Motoring Supplement

VOL. 9 ISSUE 147 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 - 19, 2016