Motoring Today Column: Toyota Stays True

Jul 29, 2020

Toyota Stays True

Toyota has unveiled the 2020 update of the Vios, its best-selling compact sedan.

Witnessed by thousands on-line, the upgraded variants of the Vios should help Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) in its effort to lead the resurgence of the local auto industry following the lockdown that virtually paralyzed the economy.

But a more significant aspect of the new Vios launch is Toyota's resolve to continue producing the Vios at its local plan in Sta. Rosa, Rosa.

In an on-line press conference held before the public Vios launch held on Facebook Live, TMP president Atsuhiro Okamoto said: "You can count on TMP to stay true to our promise of making the world's best Vios, and in the process, helping the economy, and providing livelihood to thousands of Filipino families."

Okamoto revealed that the Toyota factory in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, is only working one shift a day, producing around 100 Vios units daily.

However, there are plans to double the number of shifts in September of this year, he added, which should be good news as it indicates Toyota expects to see some growth in sales following the steep drop in vehicles sold during the strict lockdown.

In a press statement, TMP chairman Alfred Ty also expressed the importance of Toyota continuing to produce the Vios.

"Under the CARS Program of the government, the Vios is our flagship. It helps support almost 55,000 lives throughout the Toyota network, 71 dealers, 56 local suppliers and countless other business and trade partners," Ty said.

"Our Toyota Vios is a symbol of the best of Japanese technology and Filipino craftsmanship. In my mind, our Vios has become the national car of the Philippines. Atin ito. Gawa ng Filipino para sa Filipino. Proudly made in the Philippines, by Filipinos, for Filipinos," he added.

Also at the Zoom press conference, Jing Atienza, TMP senior vice president for marketing, said one of Toyota's role as market leader is to give momentum back to the market.

He added that as much as possible the auto industry must work to go back to normal "but of course with safety in mind."

New Nissan Logo

Nissan has unveiled a new logo during the World Premiere of the all-electric crossover Ariya.

The Ariya is the first Nissan vehicle to carry the new logo.

In a press statement, Nissan said the new logo reflects the significant changes in society over the last two decades brought mainly by digital technology.

In explaining the meaning and significance of the new logo, Tsutomu Matsuo, deputy general manager of Nissan's advanced design department, said: "The new Nissan logo communicates our guiding message, carried over from past iterations: If you have a strong, determined belief, it can even penetrate the sun."

"At Nissan, this strong belief in the power of achievement has never wavered and can be seen in our pioneering efforts in electrification, driver assistance and digital connectivity. Our logo has to convey all of this in just a glance, to show our commitment to our customers, employees and society," Matsuo added.

Barrier Safety

Engineers and experts are weighing in on the effectivity and safety of approved barriers or shields approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) for use by married couples or live-in partners when riding tandem on motorcycles.

In a position paper, the Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers said: "When the motorcycle is in motion, the barrier will contribute to the change of the designed allowable aerodynamic forces (drag and lift) which will compromise the stability of the motorcycle. This will place the safety of the riders at risk."

"With the barrier attached when the motorcycle is in motion, the front side of the barrier builds up pressure while creating turbulence and suction behind the barrier. This will not guarantee that the barrier will be effective in protecting both riders from the spread of air particles to each other," it added.

Earlier, the IATF had approved two barrier designs. One used metal tubes framing a still clear acrylic plastic to be attached to motorcyles.

Another, designed by Angkas, a pioneer in app-based motorcycle taxis, used high-grade flexible polymers to come up with a shield worn like backpacks by rider with grips for passengers.

Angkas also partnered with University of the Philippines College of Public Health (UP-CPH) , in studying ways to makes pillion riding safer amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

The UP-CPH formulated health protocols recommended to protect people riding tandem on motorcycles against coronavirus infection as well as ensuring safe riding.

The recommendations were to be submitted to the IATF and Congress.

Angkas did not say it outright, but it apparently hopes the protocols would convince the IATF to allow motorcycle taxi operations.

Extended PETC Hours

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is allowing Private Emission Testing Centers (PETC) to operate longer hours and increase the number of vehicles they can test and upload in a day.

The DOTr also extended the validity of the authorization to operate given to PETCs andMotor Vehicle Emission Control Technicians (MVECTs) until July 30, 2020. The authorization were to have expired on July 15.

This is to meet the huge demand for Certificate of Emission Compliance (CEC) needed to renew vehicle certificates of registration.

PETCs are allowed to operate from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

They are also allowed to conduct emission testing on a maximum of 120 vehicles.

Happy Motoring!!!

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(email) sunshine.television@yahoo.com

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ray Butch Gamboa graduated from the College of Arts and Letters of the University of Sto. Tomas. It was a course that should have been preparatory to a law degree, but the call of broadcasting aborted his plans.

At the age of 16, while still a student, Butch tried his hand at disc jockeying, landing a job at Mareco Broadcasting Network’s AM stations DZBM and DZLM. From there, Butch moved on with his illustrious career as a popular disc jockey, riding the airwaves of Bob Stewart’s middle-of-the-road music at DZXX, and ending his disc jockeying career at ABS-CBN’s DZYL and DZQL.

From there, he stayed on with ABS-CBN, covering live the proceedings at the Manila Stock Exchange and eventually entered into the world of television sales as an account manager for the premier channel of ABS-CBN Channel 2.

In the early 70’s, at the outbreak of Martial Law, Butch was one of the thousands of professionals who woke up jobless when then President Marcos declared the new status of the nation. With the closure of ABS-CBN, Butch ventured into different fields outside of broadcast. He tried his hand and with ease and success at export (Costume jewelry), real estate (brokerage), and restaurants (fast food).

In 1987, after the revolution, with the broadcast industry back to its free state, and with its irresistible call ringing in his ears, Butch made his inevitable comeback and pioneered in a local motoring show, producing Motoring Today on Channel 4 and co-hosting with local motor sports’ living legend Pocholo Ramirez.

After 4 years, he ventured into another pioneering format by producing and hosting Business & Leisure, which was originally aired on ABS-CBN’s Channel 2. The format eventually espoused similar ones in other different channels. But the clones in due course faded away leaving the original staying on airing on Channel 4 and eventually on Shop TV on Sky Cable’s Channel 13.

The following year, the pioneering spirit in Butch spurred him to produce another TV show, Race Weekend, also on Channel 4, covering circuit racing at the Subic International Raceway after the motor sport’s hiatus of 17 years. But when similar shows with duplicated formats sprouted, he decided to give way and ended the program after a year, although still enjoying unparalleled viewership.

In 1998, when the local automotive industry was in a slump, Butch contributed his share to help the ailing industry by producing another popular motoring-related show, this time exclusive to the automobile and its industry—Auto Focus, which became a vehicle for local automotive assemblers and importers to showcase their products and dwell on the industry’s latest technological developments.

In 2003, Butch teamed up with his brother, Rey Gamboa who was a former Shell executive and presently one Philippine Star’s business columnist to co-produce and co-host the TV show Breaking Barriers on Channel 13. It is a talk show that features guests who are in the news and in the middle of controversies. The program ventures to draw deeper insights into current issues to learn how they impact to our daily lives.

Today, Motoring Today on its 28th year of service to the general motoring public still enjoys its unprecedented loyal vierwership nationwide while Auto Focus, after 16 years has firmly established its niche viewership among automobile enthusiasts and on the other hand Business & Leisure is on its 24th year dishing out current business issues and lifestyle features.

Today, aside from writing weekly columns for the Philippine Star (Motoring Today on Wednesdays and Business & Leisure on Saturdays) and executive producer / host of weekly TV shows (Motoring Today, airs Sundays on Solar Sports Channel 70, Business & Leisure, airs Tuesdays on Shop TV, Sky Cable Channel 13 and Auto Focus airs Thursdays on Shop TV, Sky Cable Channel 13, Ray Butch Gamboa is currently the Chairman and CEO of Sunshine Television Production and Marketing Services Corp., President of Gamcor Management and Development Corp., Chairman of Asia-Pacific Realty Corporation, President and Chairman of Socio-Communication Foundation for Asia and Founding Chairman of the Society of Phil. Motoring Journalists (SPMJ)