Special Plates—down the drain?

Some motor vehicle owners who bought “special plates” for their favorite automobiles to mark their initials, birthdays, anniversary, etc. are all in a quandary if the 20K for 2-number plates and 15K for those that are 3-numbered will all go down the drain with the advent of the new LTO newly-designed plates.

These vehicle owners find it unfair after being enticed by the LTO (Land Transportation Office) itself to buy these plates at the time when the government agency wanted to raise additional revenues to better run it operations. 

I’m guessing, but based on the principle that your vehicle’s assigned plate number stays with it even after its lifespan, these numbers in “special plates” should stay as they are.

With all due respect, “What say you, LTO?”

The dawn of BYD in the Philippines

The event was simply planned and executed. There was the usual ribbon-cutting and speeches and TV interviews consistent with the opening of an auto dealership. After all it was indeed the opening of an automobile dealership. Except that it was the public presentation of the first of what’s expected to be many automobile dealerships that shall carry the premier automobile Chinese brand—BYD.

“Build Your Dreams” is what the letters BYD stand for. Aside from being the world’s largest supplier of rechargeable batteries and deeply involved in I.T. or Information Technology, it is a top automobile company in China that recently partnered with Daimler AG by forming the BYD Daimler New Technology Co. Ltd (BDNT) for research and technology development of electric vehicles. One of the high-profile investors in the company is global business tycoon, Warren Buffet.

In the Philippines, BYD’s automobile interests are being handled by Solar Transport and Automotive Resources Corp. (STAR Corporation), which is the new baby of the very dynamic and progressive Tieng family of Solar Entertainment, which also includes all Solar TV interests along with other business enterprises.

STAR Corp. has Willy Tieng (the 3rd of the more visible Tieng male siblings, William and Wilson and dear uncle of party-list Congressman Irwin Tieng) as Chairman with his young but visibly dynamic son, Mark Andrew as Managing Director and auto industry veteran, Anna Tanhueco as General Manager—indeed a formidable team.

Aware of the stigma of China-made vehicles in the Philippines brought about by the unprepared and ill-planned launch of another China-brand vehicle that caused failed expectations some years back, Star Corporation has established core values that somehow  stand for the first letters of their corporate moniker; S for service, T for trustworthy, A for aggressive and R for responsible. Their aim is to become the recognized leader in China Brand vehicles and be one of the Top 10 auto brand in the country while supplying the populace with world-class and affordable vehicles.

Star Corp.’s maiden BYD dealership offering, BYD Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong City formally opened its doors last Saturday, September 7 and simultaneously unveiled the first three vehicles that they would be offering the local auto market—the L3, F5 and their flagship model, the S6.      

The L3 is a “C” segment sedan that’s available in two variants; the L3 1.5 liter GS that’s equipped with 16 valve, SOHC, fuel injected gasoline engine with DCT (Dual Clutch Transmission) and the L3 1.5 liter GL with 16 valve, SOHC, fuel injected gasoline engine mated to a 5-speed Manual Transmission.

The BYD F5 Surui is also a “C” segment passenger car, which boasts of the company’s world-leading Remote Driving Control technology, TID power assembly (turbo charged + direct injection + dual clutch transmission).

The Remote Driving Control technology allows the car owner to make the car switch on the air-conditioner, start, move forward and back, turn left and right and travel at a restricted speed all by itself without the driver even being in the vehicle—all at the press of a button. This technology won Best Leading Science and Technology in the 2012 Beijing Auto Show.

The BYD S6 is the first independently-designed SUV that’s available in two variants—the S6 2.4 liter with automatic transmission and the S6 2.0 liter with 5-speed Manual Transmission 2-wheel drive.

There’s still a mouthful of things to say about these new model offerings in the local market that offer not only quality and reliability but best of all affordability. Check them out.

Congratulations and welcome to the industry, Star Corporation!

Ray of hope for the underprivileged but deserving Filipino youth

Thanks to business tycoon and PGA Cars chairman Robert Coyuito, Jr., there are now 127 skillfully-trained and Certified Porsche Service Mechatronics deployed in various Porsche Centers in the Middle East, Latin America and Southeast Asia. And 16 more have just been added to the ranks, the 9th batch, as they just recently graduated from the PTRCA or Porsche Training and Recruitment Center Asia.

The PTRCA is the first outside of Germany. Born out of a partnership of Porsche AG, Don Bosco Technical Institute and PGA Cars it aims to provide technical training complete with Porsche training vehicles, special tools, English language training, financial support and employment to underprivileged but deserving young Filipinos.  

Congratulations to all the graduates and the underprivileged’s debt of gratitude to PTRCA.

The stage is set for this year’s grand auto display and test drive

All the major players in the local auto industry are gearing up for the country’s biggest outdoor automobile display and test drive set for staging on November 7 at the SM (MOA) Mall of Asia.

The 2013 Auto Focus Motor Show & Auto Expo will have on display and test drive brand new vehicles from Toyota Motor Philippines, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines, Hyundai Asia Resources, Ford Group Philippines, Eurobrand Distributors (Peugeot), Cats Motors (Mercedes-Benz, Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge), Lexus Manila, Inc., Columbian Autocar (Kia), Ayala Auto (Volkswagen), Car Covenant Company (Chevrolet) Universal Motors (Nissan Commercial vehicles), Isuzu Philippines, Berjaya Motors (Mazda) and Honda Cars Philippines.    

This year’s site is the expansive parking lot bounded by Palm Coast Avenue, Seaside Boulevard, Bayshore Avenue and Ocean Drive located in front of Two E-Com Building at the MOA.

Just like last year, the automobile exhibitors are expected to come up with visibly attractive booths to showcase their best current year cars and to offer their top models for the public to have an up close scrutiny and revealing test drives.  

It is going to be a 4-day, Thursday to Sunday automobile extravaganza that’ll have daily live band entertainment and other exciting activities for all of the members of the family to enjoy and feast their eyes on.

Organized by Sunshine TV, producers of long-time auto TV shows Motoring Today (Sunday, 12 noon, Solar Sports, Channel 70, Sky Cable Network) and Auto Focus (Thursday, 10pm, HSN, Channel 13, Sky Cable Network) the motor show shall also have daily “eyeball” activities by the biggest car clubs in the country.  

Happy Motoring!!!

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