Motoring Today Column

Sep 20, 2023

Busy Final Quarter

It's going to be a very exciting last quarter of the year for the automotive sector if September is any indication.

Just the past few days alone showed automotive brands busy launching new vehicles and opening dealerships, and we can only expect it to be even busier in the last three-BER months of the year.

Traditionally the final months of the year is when many automotive companies intensify marketing initiatives and promos to generate sales.

Honda CR-V Connect

Making waves this Septemberis Honda Cars Philippines which launched the All New Honda CR-V.

The All New Honda CR-V arrives with what Honda calls a full-hybrid powertrain that combines all of Honda's gasoline engine and electrification technologies with an array of advanced technologies to achieve exceptionally low fuel consumption and a new level of driving pleasure.

The All New CR-V will also be the first model in its local lineup to feature Honda CONNECT, which enables owners to communicate with their vehicle, check its status, and even be notified of alerts with a smartphone.

Adds HCPI president Rie Miyaki : "We are so happy to introduce, the very first introduction to the Philippine market, of HondaCONNECT which is a mobile app that provides a better quality of life to the people with safety, security and convenience features."

Electric Dealership

Also making moves is SMC Asia Car Distributors Corp., official importer and distributor of BMW in the Philippines .

SMC Asia Car has appointed Autoallee BMWas an official dealer of BMW electric vehicles.

Aside from selling the iX3, iX,and i7 all-electric BMWs, Autoallee offers free recharging to BMW customers at the dealership.

Autoallee chairman Clemente Garcia reveals there is a strong demand for electric vehicles, saying: "We have a very strong demand from our clients. A lot of inquiries already and we are very excited."

"This is a totally new segment. Untapped one. I believe this will grow big, electric car market in the Philippines."

BMW M2 Launch

Aside from appointing another dealer for BMW electric vehicles , SMC Asia Caralso launched the 2024 M2 sports coupe .

The second generation, two-door twin-turbo inline-six-powered coupe was showcased at the Karrera Cafe in Alabang.

If you have Php5.5 million to spare, there's BMW M2 Pure waiting for you. For Php8.89 million, you can drive home a BMW M2 Carbon.

Mobility & Nobility

One of the brands making a big move this September isHongqi, the premier luxury automotive company in China, represented locally by EVOxTerra, Inc.

Hongqi just formally opened its flagship dealership at the Bonifacio Global Citywhile launching four new vehicles.

For those unfamiliar with Chinese automotive history, Hongqi is known as the ride of China officialdom-the nobility so to speak - back in the day.

Since the first Hongqiluxury car was rolled out in 1958, they became the official ride of the top-ranking government officials, distinguished personalities, and international dignitaries.

During the formal opening of the Hongqi flagship dealership at BGC, EVOxTerra president Rashid Delgado highlighted the brand's legacy and future blending mobility and nobility.

SaidDelgado: "For many years the Hongqi brand was only available for dignitaries and government officials in China.

"It's only more recently that the Hongqi now is available as a consumer brand and has really grand aspiration to appear in the global stage."

Hongqi showcased four new models during the formal opening of its BGC dealership-the Hongqi E-HS9, Hongqi E-QM5,theH5,and the H9.

The Hongqi E-HS9 and Hongqi E-QM5 are fully electric vehicles, while the H5 and the H9 are powered by internal combustion engines or ICEs.

The four vehicles manifest Hongqi as a brand deeply rooted in tradition yet ceaselessly innovating for the future.

This dual approach ensures that customers can choose from a range of cutting-edge, eco-conscious electric models or indulge in the classic sophistication and performance of petrol-powered vehicles, Hongqi said in the press statement.

Happy Motoring!!!

For comments & inquiries:

(email) sunshine.television@yahoo.com

(website) www.motoringtoday.ph

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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)