AS you read this, I could be already in Tokyo—dear God permitting. I’m set to cover the Tokyo Motor Show from October 22 to November 5. Again. This edition is some kind of a milestone for me, as this will be the 10th straight time that Toyota has invited me to the event.
I’ve been covering the event since 1993. That long, indeed.
Oh, well, you want more history?
It’s all the “fault” of Vince S. Socco, who first extended the invitation to me in 1999. Even long after Vince had left Toyota Motor Philippines to be promoted to top-rank positions both in the Toyota Asia Pacific based in Singapore and Toyota Motor Corp. in Tokyo, the invitations kept coming for me to cover the biennial meet.
And why do I keep honoring the invites, you might ask?
Well, the Tokyo Motor Show, now on its 45th staging, is one of only a few car shows in the world that exhibits some of the most unique bonanzas of vehicles, both present and futuristic.
Usually, the present batch of vehicles on display in the Tokyo Motor Show can be bought outright, as they are already available in the market.
But the futuristic, as the word connotes, are vehicles that might be rolled out from the assembly lines five or so years from now. They are, in motoring parlance, the concept cars. Meaning, they are not purely intended for manufacturing in bulk and sold to the public. Some of the concept cars may make it to showrooms, some may go straight to the back burners and still some may not be sold in the market for one reason or another. Overall, though, many concept cars land in dealerships as part of the evolution of motorization—and to continue the business of making cars.
Of course, there is one exceedingly delectable reason why I never turn down Toyota’s invite that had come once every two years since 1999: I get to savor the real sashimi, the much-envied staple in the Land of The Rising Sun. If lucky, there’s also those world-famed Kobe and Wagyu beefs, served liberally, to your heart’s content during dinner—washed down most of the time by Japan’s best-selling sake. Well, if I may add, the Tokyo trip also affords me the chance to listen to The Beatles music live, courtesy of Japan’s heralded Beatle copycats at The Abbey Road Bar/Restaurant located in the heart of Roppongi.
Cars, sashimi and Beatle stuff—they do mix each time the Tokyo Motor Show is around.
September and 2017 sales
THE industry saw a stunning sales surge in September, netting more than 34,000 cars sold. That was more than 9-percent increase to last year’s figures.
Again, this was another strong indication of our car buffs’ inclination to purchase their vehicle—or vehicles—before the year ends. It’s as if everybody’s trying to beat a deadline.
Well, it looks like it. For, if you haven’t noticed it yet, the new excise-tax law on vehicles might be finally approved on both the lower and Upper chambers of the House. If plans do not miscarry, the implementation of the law is targeted next year.
To begin with, cars priced from P600,000 to about P1 million will draw another P20,000 to P40,000 as excise tax. As the car price gets higher, so with the excise tax.
Of course, the rich will hardly feel the pinch. It is the middle class who will bear the brunt more, not excluding those aspiring young execs dreaming of owning their first cars.
As early as July, the sales projection for the year of 350,000 has already been breached.
For sure, the car-buying frenzy will last up to the dying hours of the year, making 2017 as the biggest blockbuster ever in car sales in recent memory.
Toyota’s CARS investment
AFTER an initial P3.2-billion investment in June 2016 to enroll in the government’s CARS (Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy Program), Toyota increased recently its outlay to P5.24 billion to finance its plastic-injection facility in Santa Rosa City, Laguna.
“Investing in new parts manufacturing capability constitutes a significant portion of our investments,” said Toyota Motor Philippines President Satoru Suzuki, as quoted by our Catherine N. Pillas. “Our major localization projects will drive our goal of advancing Philippine marketing.”
The Board of Investments (BOI) created the CARS in 2013 to attract the auto industry to invest more through generous offers of incentives.
After Toyota came Mitsubishi, elating BOI officials whose vision is to make the country a major automotive hub in Southeast Asia.
With Toyota’s added muscle of investments, maybe Mitsubishi would follow suit soon?
Historically, these two automotive giants had always taken the lead in advancing the cause of motorization in the country.
PEE STOP Unlike in the Philippines, bus accidents in Japan rarely happen because of strict laws, not only on safety maintenance of public vehicles but also on their bus drivers themselves. For example, a bus driver scheduled for an eight-hour shift today could not drive the following day. The reason is obvious: The bus driver needs ample rest, and one whole day is a must-rest for the bus driver scheduled the day before to an eight-hour grind. And because their buses are kept in perfect shape at all times, not a single case of brakes failing during a trip has ever been recorded there in postwar times.