July is turning out to be an auspicious month that augurs well for an exciting and busy second half of the year for the auto industry.
The month also provides good news for motorists that should provide welcome relief as well as something they could look forward to in the months and years to come.
Samal-Davao Bridge
Good news for motorists in Davao and the Island City of Samal.
New Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan has confirmed that the Samal Island-Davao City Connector Project, one of the flagship projects under the Build Build Build program of the Duterte administration, will push through.
The project will see a 3.98-kilometer bridge with four lanes connecting Davao City to Samal Island.
The toll-free bridge funded by Official Development Assistance from China is expected to begin construction this year and is targeted for completion in 2027.
Once completed motorists can drive from Davao City to Samal in around five minutes.
Albay-Sorsogon Road
Also great news for motorists, this time in Bicol, is the near completion of the 15.87-kilometer Albay-Sorsogon Connector Road.
Once completed, the new connector road is expected to cut travel times between Albay and Sorsogon by directly linking Legazpi City to Manito Road.
In a press statement, DPWH Region 5 Director Virgilio Eduarte said: “Locals and visitors will be able to utilize this all-weather road very soon. We are targeting completion of ongoing sections before the end of this year.
“When fully completed, Albay-Sorsogon Connector Road will reduce the travel time of motorists by one hour, benefitting as many as 5,000 motorists daily, and eventually improving the economic condition of areas along its route.”
WM Electric
There’s a new player in the local EV scene with seemingly serious intentions to fast-charge the country into the electric vehicle age.
WM Motor Philippines (WMPH) has officially launched the Weltmeister W5, a fully electric SUV crossover, after months of laying the groundwork for this first offering into the local EV market.
WMPH is the sole distributor of WM Motor brand electric vehicles manufactured in China.
It is not only distributing WM EVs but is also working to develop a network of charging stations in the country.
According to a press statement, WMPH “has the full-play distributorship rights to WM EVs which include but are not limited to car distributorship, dealership, charging stations, services, and parts.”
Already WMPH has broken ground for the construction of the WM Motor Lifestyle Hub and Service Center at the AFP-RSBS Industrial Park in Western Bicutan, Taguig City.
WPMPH describes this as the “country’s first-of-its-kind service and lifestyle facility that has a full-service workshop that caters to all after-sales requirements of WM EVs.”
This will serve “as a hub to educate the market on sustainability and the role EVs can play.”
Those who’d like to take a look and test drive the Weltmeister W5 can head over to the newly opened WMPH showroom at at the Seven/NEO building in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.
Lite Ace is back
Toyota has brought back the Lite Ace, one of the most popular vans for the family back in its heydays.
This time the Lite Ace is being introduced as a light commercial vehicle that will be the “reliable business partner for Filipino business owners and entrepreneurs.”
To emphasize this point, the official launch of all-new Lite Ace was held at the Farmers Plaza in Quezon City, one of the busiest commercial centers and marketplaces in the country.
At the launch, Toyota Motor Philippines president Atsuhiro Okamoto said: “We are confident that the All-New Lite Ace is a game-changer, not just in uplifting the auto industry, but more importantly in improving the way homegrown businesses move people and goods.”
Two variants of the Lite Ace are now available: the Pickup with an open bed for fast and flexible loading, and the Panel Van with sliding enclosure for a more secure cargo transport.
But Toyota says more variants will be available by September, including an Aluminum Van ideal for dry goods transport and the Utility Van fit for public transport.
Toyota is making the Lite Ace powered by a 1.5-liter gasoline engine with 5-speed manual transmission quite affordable.
The Pickup Lite Ace retails at Php570,000, the Panel Van Lite Ace at Php655,000.
Toyota Financial Services Philippines is offering unique financing packages for the Lite Ace that allow customers to acquire units under a weekly payment scheme with rates that go as low as Php2,903.50 per week for Pickup variant.
Happy Motoring!!!
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