The 2019 Auto Focus Pre-Christmas Multi-brand Test Drive Festival, presented by Phoenix Petroleum, held a four-day test drive event at the SM Mall of Asia Concert Grounds last November 14 to 17 that saw 15 car manufacturers take part in the biggest outdoor test drive event in the country.
The Auto Focus Test Drive Festival, held twice a year, started back in 2014. A one-stop shop for brand-new vehicles, the idea behind the event is to offer convenience to people browsing for a new car. They don’t have to go from one dealership to another as they decide on a vehicle, and instead, get first-hand experience with various brands and models.
The festival continues to draw a hefty number of visitors from walk-ins, to window shoppers, to prospective car buyers. STV or Sunshine Television, spearheaded by the “godfather of motoring” Mr. Ray Butch Gamboa, started with this idea as an outdoor display at the Bonfacio Global City back in 2005. It was then dubbed the “Auto Focus Motor Show” before transforming into a full-fledged hands-on experience for consumers.
The automobile brands that joined the Test Drive Festival were: Changan, Chevrolet, Ford, GAC Motor, Honda, Isuzu, KIA, Maxus, Mitsubishi, Nissan, SsangYong, Subaru, Suzuki, Toyota, and Volkswagen. All 15 brands from the local auto industry garnered reservations and on-site purchases during the event as consumers were extended irresistible promos offered only at the event.
Leading the charge for the most test drivers on the event was Ford with 383 inside and outside the driving course. It was followed by Honda with a close 376 test drivers, then Toyota with 366 testers, while Suzuki had 365, and Nissan 354 to round out the top five.
A grand total of 3,308 test drivers eclipsed the previous record of 2,482, and had two areas to choose from: two identical courses within the parking area, and outside along the Mall of Asia complex. The latter proved a more relaxed option as drivers drove in the periphery of the Mall Of Asia. Three thousand might be a small number to look at, but it is said to be the maximum number possible since the long queues for the courses were never-ending from morning to evening – making the event an unqualified success. The Auto Focus Multi-brand Test Drive Festival Powered by Phoenix Petroleum returns this coming April with the Auto Focus Summer Test Drive Festival.
The festival is organized by Sunshine Television (STV) as part of its annual trilogy of automobile industry service and merit programs alongside the recently concluded Auto Focus People’s Choice Awards (AFPCA) and Auto Focus Media’s Choice Awards (AFMCA).