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January 9, 2026

Beat EV Woes And Drive With Confidence With VinFast And Its Expanding EV Charging Network

Every day, Metro Manila turns into its own obstacle course, bumper-to-bumper lines, packed parking lots, and evening gridlocks. For most drivers, rush hour is inconvenient. For EV drivers, it can be nerve-wracking watching your battery drain while barely moving, but this is exactly where VinFast steps up for its users.

Nissan’s plan to leverage Nismo as part of their corporate recovery is off to a good start. Shown at the 2026 Tokyo Auto Salon is the Aura Nismo RS Concept—an electrified take on a hot hatch complete with more power and aggressive styling.

Long-time Subaru fans such as myself are no stranger to disappointment, but boy, did they manage to dose plenty of people with the announcement of the first “STI” in ages. Make some sad trombone noises as the carmaker just announce the WRX STI Sport#.

Tesla has sprung a surprise with its most affordable EV offering yet: the new 2026 Model 3 Standard Rear-Wheel Drive. Costing just P 1,838,000, it’s one of the first non-Chinese BEVs to reach price parity with a combustion engine or hybrid offering.

Toyota has revealed a special ultra-limited version of its GR Yaris: the GR Yaris Morizo RR. Applying insights gained, not through the World Rally Championship, but through its participation at the 2025 Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance, it’ll be available in just 100 units in Japan, and 100 units in select global markets (Europe being the only one confirmed thus far).

We first reported on it last July, and now it has been confirmed: Mazda’s newest color is a dark shade of blue called Navy Blue Mica.

Ford Lets You Drive Home A Brand-New Ranger Or Everest And Pay Later

Ford Philippines is starting the year on a high note with its Drive Now, Pay Later program that elevates the purchase experience of its customers getting a new vehicle in the new year.

Comebacks are hard to pull off, especially when a brand has made its mark with signature models that already defines its equity. To grow, however, is another story, and sometimes, it pays to bring back a well-known favorite. Hyundai Motor Philippines is no stranger to second winds and with that, reintroduces the Hyundai VENUE, the nameplate that stands for day-to-day reliability, functionality, and versatility. The VENUE combines what every Filipino looks for in a daily driver – an SUV that provides premium, up-to-the-minute style with the level of driving performance that you can count on for every kind of lifestyle.

Nissan Philippines Appoints New Senior Manager For Communications

Nissan Philippines announces the appointment of Lyka De La Cruz-Andres as Senior Manager for Communications, effective January 5, 2026.

Toyota Gazoo Racing has announced that it’s dropping “Toyota” in its name, opting to go with “Gazoo Racing” for the first time in 20 years. The transition marks a return to its founding principles surrounding motorsports-bred cars and the fostering of racing talent. The transition will be completed by January 2027.

VinFast, the rising Vietnam-born Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) brand, is strengthening its presence in the Southern Philippines with the opening of its first dealership in Mindanao. In partnership with HighGear Concepts, Inc, VinFast’s new dealership located at Sta. Lucia Mall, Buhangin District, Davao City, brings its popular future-ready automotive innovations closer to Davaoeños.

The Philippine Parts Makers Association (PPMA) is sounding the alarm following the President’s veto of the proposed budget for the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) and the Revitalizing the Automotive Industry for Competitiveness Enhancement (RACE) programs, warning that the decision threatens what remains of local vehicle manufacturing in the Philippines.

Every December, Metro Manila slips into its annual state of carmageddon. As the MMDA issues early advisories, the roads respond exactly as expected: SLEX and NLEX slow to a crawl, EDSA becomes a glowing red line, C5 clogs in both directions, and even neighborhood roads turn into surprise bottlenecks. Gift-buying, reunions, late mall hours, road closures for events, and an already stretched transport system all converge into one long, familiar traffic story. We joke about it because that’s how we cope, but anyone stuck inside a barely-moving car knows how much fuel, time, and energy are wasted in the process.

BYD has officially opened its first dealership in Bulacan. Located at 19 Doña Remedios Trinidad Hwy, Baliuag, Philippines and operated by Astral Motors, Inc., BYD Baliwag marks an important step in Central Luzon’s shift to sustainable transportation.

Last October 2025, Jetour Auto marked a major milestone in its brand journey: surpassing two million cumulative sales since its debut in 2018. Over seven years of steady growth, this achievement reflects strong market recognition and user trust in Jetour’s products and strategy. It also signifies the brand’s solid position in the global automotive landscape and its entry into the top rank of mainstream players.

The finalists for the 2026 World Car of the Year have been announced and boy are they a weird, eclectic mix.

Philippine Government Deals Blow To Local Auto Manufacturing By Removing Support For CARS, RACE Programs

The Philippine government has dealt a blow to local automotive manufacturing as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vetoed support for the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy or CARS program and its replacement, the Revitalizing the Automotive Industry for Competitiveness Enhancement (RACE) program.

Hyundai Motor Philippines Inc. (HMPH) successfully concluded its “Hope in a Bag” project in collaboration with Knowell PH, a local brand that produces bags out of sustainable materials. Throughout 2025, Hyundai partnered with Knowell during events such as the Hyundai Mobility Experience, where customers redeemed exclusive Hyundai-branded Knowell bags as part of on-site promotions.

Chevrolet’s Philippine distributor, HARIPhil Asia Resources, Inc., looks to be fulfilling its promise of launching its own fully-electric models, and it could be happening very soon with a very familiar nameplate: the Spark.

The world’s first production solid-state EV battery is now here, and it didn’t need a Chinese company (or chemicals) to achieve it.

Honda received some flak for basically shoehorning the Civic e:HEV’s powertrain into their re-born Prelude lock, stock, and barrel. If anything, the sporty coupe only had the Civic Type R suspension bits and the Honda S+ Shift control going for it. Check out the Philippine specs of the Prelude.

I have an aversion towards pickup trucks, but I try my best to like them. I like the power, the capability, and when they look prim and proper like the Mazda BT-50. They fit my lifestyle but I always dread driving them because of the lack of ride comfort. Some, like the Ford Ranger Raptor, are a step better but there’s still that hint of stiffness in certain road conditions. Same for the BYD Shark that boasts of a multi-link rear suspension but not any better than the years-old Nissan Navara - which is considered the best riding pickup truck.

These THACO Sleeper Buses Now Service The Manila To Bicol Route

BJ Mercantile, Inc. (BJM), the official distributor of Thaco commercial vehicles in the Philippines, has officially turned over the country’s first two Thaco sleeper buses to Cagsawa Travel and Tours, Inc., setting a new standard for stylish, comfortable, and convenient travel between Manila and the Bicol Region. Designed to elevate the passenger experience, the Thaco Mobihome is a new generation of luxury sleeper buses, designed, manufactured, and assembled by Thaco Auto at the largest and most modern bus plant in Southeast Asia.

Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) Foundation launches its new ‘Mobi-Care’ (“Mobility with Care”) program with the turnover of four brand-new Toyota vehicles to the city governments of Santa Rosa and Batangas. These duly configured service vehicles are aimed at aiding the local governments in delivering public health services through enhanced mobility.

Carmakers who thought that touchscreens are the future, are starting to double back. The clearest case is with the all-new ID. Polo—Volkswagen’s newest EV that brings back tactile buttons and switches. It will definite the interior concept of upcoming Volkswagen EV models moving forward.

Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC), together with dealer partner Izu South Motors Corporation, has officially reopened its Zamboanga City Dealership, now refreshed with a full Isuzu Outlet Standard (IOS)–compliant design. The launch marks another milestone in Isuzu’s “Road to 50” initiative, which aims to expand and modernize the company’s nationwide dealer network in line with the evolving demands of rapidly developing regions.

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January 9, 2026

Beat EV Woes And Drive With Confidence With VinFast And Its Expanding EV Charging Network

The Nissan Aura Nismo RS Rethinks Hot Hatches

Subaru's Newest "Complete STI" Car Is (Still) A Disappointment

At P 1,838,000, The 2026 Tesla Model 3 Undercuts Traditional Compacts, Hybrids

The Toyota GR Yaris Morizo RR Trades WRC Gravel For Nürburgring Tarmac

Mazda's Newest Color Is...Navy Blue Mica

January 8, 2026

Ford Lets You Drive Home A Brand-New Ranger Or Everest And Pay Later

The Hyundai VENUE Is The SUV For Every Modern Filipino

January 7, 2026

Nissan Philippines Appoints New Senior Manager For Communications

Toyota Gazoo Racing Drops "Toyota" Name

VinFast Opens Davao Dealership

Local Parts Makers Warn Local Auto Assembly Could Disappear With PBBM's CARS, RACE Veto

Traffic Is Quietly Raising Our Carbon Footprint And That's Why Going Electric Matters

BYD Opens First Dealership In Bulacan

Jetour Auto Reaches 2-Million Sales Milestone

The Finalists For The 2026 World Car Of The Year Are A Weird Bunch

January 6, 2026

Philippine Government Deals Blow To Local Auto Manufacturing By Removing Support For CARS, RACE Programs

Hyundai, In Partnership With Knowell, Donates 1,130 School Bags to Local Communities

Chevrolet Spark To Make Philippines Comeback As Mini EV SUV This 2026?

Finnish Innovator Donut Labs Makes World's First Production All-Solid-State EV Battery

The Prelude-Exclusive Honda S+ Shift System Is Heading To The Civic Hybrid

The Ride's Great On The Changan Nevo Hunter But The Overall Experience Is Another Thing

January 5, 2026

These THACO Sleeper Buses Now Service The Manila To Bicol Route

TMP Foundation Mobi-Care Program Enhances Basic Health Services In Santa Rosa And Batangas

Volkswagen Reembraces Physical Switches As New Euro NCAP Requirements Take Effect

Isuzu Zamboanga Gets New Look