Our penchant to make things more complex

Did you know that even before the much publicized 12- to 13-hour land travel debacle to Baguio City and other destinations located in the north during the recent Christmas holidays, which was greatly blamed on the absence of an integrated toll collection system in the various expressways, a proposal to establish a seamless operation in the tollways had already been submitted and would have been worked on for implementation if it were approved? 

The Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC) operators of both the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) had previously submitted a proposal to the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) to invest 600 million pesos to establish a seamless integrated toll collection system wherein motorists using both toll ways would not have to go through an NLEX toll gate to get to the SCTEX and vice versa. 

MNTC also moved to secure the contract to continue operation, maintenance and management of the SCTEX until the year 2043. However these two proposals remain hanging in the air after the government decided to submit the two proposals to a ‘Swiss challenge,’ which means another group could present similar proposals with the MNTC given the right to match the proposals. The objective of the price challenge is to ensure that the government is getting the best price for the services being committed.

Some observers are of the belief however that price should not be the only consideration that the government should focus on, especially in this particular situation, where the capability to deliver the highest quality of service to motorists is paramount—a record that the MNTC group has long established in its world-class running of the NLEX and the SCTEX.

The motoring public asks; “Why complicate matters? Why fix, if it ain’t broke?”

KISS—Keep It Simple Stupid—my life’s guiding principle.

Isuzu celebrates 100,000th Hilander Crosswind 

It was first launched in 1997, barely two years after Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) set up its formal residence in the country. And to date the Hilander Crosswind, IPC’s bestselling nameplate for nearly two decades has reached its milestone 100,000th - unit production mark.  

“Today, the 100,000th Isuzu Crosswind comes out of the assembly line. This is a vehicle that holds a special place in Isuzu Philippines Corporation’s history as it proves that vehicle manufacturing in the Philippines is a viable endeavor and one that meaningfully contributes to national progress by generating employment and government revenue,” stated IPC president Nobuo Izumina as he was joined by other company officials and team members from the assembly line last January 21 during fitting ceremonies marking the historic event held at the IPC manufacturing plant at the Laguna Technopark in Binan, Laguna.

The Crosswind, which was then dubbed Hilander, was one of the first vehicles assembled by IPC at its then—new world-class manufacturing facilities. Shortly after its introduction, it quickly established itself as a leader in the highly competitive local AUV (Asian Utility Vehicle) segment, having 6,145 units assembled in its first year. But then the Asian financial crisis dawned the next year, which negatively impacted on the domestic automotive industry like all the rest and its sales dipped but picked up again in the year 2000, and as the old line goes, “The rest is history.”        

“Isuzu Philippines Corporation is truly humbled by the Filipinos’ overwhelming reception to the Isuzu Hilander and Crosswind. Rest assured that Isuzu will continually offer vehicles that make a difference in peoples’ lives,” added Izumina-san, IPC’s amiable and soft-spoken president.

Volvo, the world’s safest automobile?

After having researched on the latest accolades for Volvo-made vehicles, I guess it is indeed unfair to end this article’s headline with a question mark. It should be a statement of fact.

Volvo had four models making this year’s IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Awards, the only European brand with more than two models in the list.

What’s the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Awards anyway?

Our research tells us that IIHS is the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. It’s a U.S. non-government, non-profit organization that conducts scientific automobile crush tests. Auto insurers fund it to reduce the number of motor vehicles crushes and their corresponding injuries and property damage. It is known to conduct the most stringent crash tests and getting a model into its Top Safety Pick list would mean that it has passed the series of ultimate damage tests, while being part of the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ would mean hurdling them with flying colors—and Volvo did just that this year in its four models.

By the way, did you know what is Volvo’s ‘Vision 2020’?

It simply states, “No one should be killed or seriously injured in or by a new Volvo car.” 

Enough said. I doff my hat to Volvo.

Auto importers bullish for 2015

With a 13 percent growth in 2014, the Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors (AVID) selling a total of 35,565 units sees greater growth in the local auto industry this year.

“AVID is confident the industry will continue its bullish stance for 2015 with another significant growth on the back of strong macro fundamentals and brisk vehicle demand,” states AVID president, Ms. Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo.

AVID maintains that the main driver of this growth is the Passenger Car segment, which posted 14 percent year-to-date growth to 18,467 units in 2014.

Meanwhile, Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI), the official country distributors of Hyundai vehicles and the biggest-selling member of AVID ended 2014 on a positive note as sales accelerated to 23,019 units, up 4 percent from last year. And this is despite a disappointing December sales.

But then 2015 is viewed on a increased positive note taking into consideration the prevalent economic strength and the existing trend in vehicle in demand.

Scenic Tagaytay City continues support for STV-ARCC

With the staging of the 1st leg of the STV Auto Rally Corporate Challenge on the 2nd week of March fast approaching, Tagaytay City Congressman Bambol Tolentino welcomes the prospect of hosting it for the 3rd straight time.

The team of STV-ARCC rally director, George Ramirez and IT expert, Patrick Chua is already conducting initial surveys, in order to plot a more exciting rally route this year.

As confirmation of team participation continues to pour in, a reminder is in order that we can only accommodate a limited number of participants to ensure a more manageable competition.

The STV-ARCC is an “on time, all the time” rally that is based on precision driving over speed, a very successful revival of the ‘Sampaguita Rally’ a big motor sport event in the Philippines in the 60s spun from Europe’s Tulip Rally.

We shall give you more updates as developments unfold. Meantime, defending champion, the Mini Rally Team, the first to register 3 wins and consecutive at that has confirmed their participation this year and their resolve to keep their title as declared by its Team Manager, multi-brand auto industry tycoon, Willy Tee Ten.

Happy Motoring!!!

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