Auto Files: Of leadership changes and brand launches
With no less than 30 brands competing for market attention, the local automotive industry is assured of a steady stream of activities, not to mention the changes in management positions, as they all aim to strengthen their brand positions.
After a flurry of new model launches in car shows, both here and abroad, in a calendar year that is nearing the halfway mark, the industry can be assured that there will be more in the next six months. And expect more fireworks not just in the way they sell their cars but also in boosting their executive ranks.
Here are some of the more interesting news in the industry that made us think of reviving our Auto Files segment:
From ‘Karl’ to ‘Karl’
Motor Image Pilipinas, Inc., exclusive distributor of Subaru vehicles in the country, is yet again changing its guards. It has been confirmed that the company’s country manager, Karl Magsuci, a respected industry veteran, has just left the company. He is reportedly being replaced by another seasoned executive, Karl Bobis-Castillo, who formerly served as the company’s PR and marketing person. Her expertise in this kind of field throughout her years in the motoring industry might help serve the company that has already had quite several country managers turned over for only just the past couple of years. Official announcement of this movement will be on May 22.
A Toyota incentive trip for the books
The recent incentive trip of market leader Toyota was something for the books. If it is true that more than 700 executives and employees of various Toyota dealerships in the country were flown to Japan by Toyota Motor Philippines to enjoy their incentive trips for hitting their targets the previous year, then it should be the biggest group ever brought by a sponsoring company abroad. TMP sold more than 200,000 vehicles in 2023 and have reached its Triple Crown for the nth time. What better way to celebrate than have all your top-achieving salespersons from all of your dealerships throughout the country; and splurge, or rather spoil them with all the luxuries they so deserve. It has also been said that the reason why all of them were there altogether is because of the upcoming sales rally they are preparing for the upcoming all-new Toyota Tamaraw, which is set to debut later this year, and the main focus of Toyota’s participation in the Philippine International Motor Show.
Possible clash of PIMS and EV Summit
Speaking of PIMS this October, it appears the Electric Vehicle Summit of the Electric Vehicles Association of the Philippines is not keen on revising its schedule and will stage its Electric Vehicle Summit on the same week of the PIMS. It can be recalled that Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc (CAMPI) president Atty. Rommel Gutierrez has long been in disagreement with the frontliners of the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP) that started with hybrid vehicles being, at first, excluded from the benefits of the The EVIDA Law or Republic Act (RA) 11697 or the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act that was passed into law in 2022. It is most likely that members of CAMPI will find it impractical to participate in an EV Summit competing against their own show that is held just once every two years.
Other changes
Vietnam-based electric vehicle maker Vinfast is launching the brand here with the media launch set on May 31 and a two-day public display of its cars to be held right after. Meanwhile, OMODA brand head, John Ezekiel “Uzzi” Asuncion and Hyundai Motor Philippines’ PR and Brand Activations head, Carissa Castell, both just recently left their respective posts.