ISN’T it nice to note that of late, many of our industry players have become environment-conscious?
The latest to catch fire is Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC), whose “2022 Road to Progress” vision saw the recent launch of its Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Project. Its main goal is to become energy self-sufficient and reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emission of its manufacturing plant in Biñan, Laguna. It is part of IPC’s ESG perspective: Environment-Social-Governance.
Last year alone, IPC took a bold environmental step by sourcing 100 percent of its power from renewable energy from the Bataan Solar Plant by mounting 1,100 solar PV panels on the roof of its manufacturing plant towards the last quarter of 2022.
With a 500-kilowatt capacity, the solar PV panels have been successfully catering up to 22 percent of the energy consumption of IPC’s manufacturing plant. With the combined renewable energy sourced from Bataan Solar Plant and IPC’s own Solar PV Project, IPC has been reducing as much as 1,790 tons of CO2 emission annually.
“As the global race to decarbonize accelerates, Isuzu Philippines is up to the challenge to prove itself as ‘Your Responsible Partner’ always,” IPC president Noboru Murakami said.
Murakami, appointed IPC president in May 2022, did the honors of launching the Solar PV project only this month with Hoshiki Yanai, the IPV vice president for manufacturing.
“With the launch of our Solar PV Project, we are taking a big step towards leading the industry on the road to sustainability,” Murakami said.
To know more about Isuzu’s environment thrusts, visit www.isuzuphil.com and follow their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/IsuzuPhilippines.
Continuing sales rebound
DECEMBER sales totaled 37,259 units, which is a 33.8-percent growth compared with 27,846 vehicles sold in the same period in 2021.
The figure completed a full year sales of 352,596 units for 2022, said the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (Campi) and Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA).
It surpassed the forecast of 336,000, which is another proof that the industry’s continuing rebound is for real in that the pandemic hump has now been practically hurdled.
“It is worth mentioning that the 37,000-level figure was recorded back in 2017,” said Campi president Rommel Gutierrez. “Achieving it again brings us renewed optimism for a better year.”
Year-to-date, Campi-TMA sold 352,596 units in 2022, equivalent to a 31.3-percent growth compared with the same period in 2021.
He said the industry will continue to capitalize on the growing market demand for new models.
But to digress, the microchip business continues to cripple vehicle manufacturing worldwide, stunting the growth of many brands while putting under the radar the future of the supply chain.
May the chip malady end soon.
PEE STOP India has surpassed Japan in sales with 4.25 million vehicles sold to Japan’s 4.2M. According to Nikkei Asia, India is now the world’s No. 3 car-seller, with China No. 1 at 5.5 M vehicles sold in 2022…San Miguel Corp. chieftain Ramon S. Ang (RSA), also the country’s main BMW distributor, received a special birthday gift last weekend when the Gin Kings handed him the PBA Commissioner’s Cup trophy following Ginebra’s impressive 114-99 rout of Hong Kong’s Bay Area Dragons in their Game 7 decider at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan. Ginebra is one of three PBA teams owned by RSA—the other two being Magnolia and San Miguel Beer. Cheers!