They say, you can’t keep a good man (or company) down; they’ll only get stronger and better when they get up. It’s a saying that’s so apt for Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation or MMPC. After being embroiled in the non-existing issue dubbed Sudden Unintended Acceleration, the country’s second best-selling nameplate is already looking forward to 2016 with great optimism.

The Philippines is welcoming back SsangYong Motor. The fourth largest Korean automaker has found a new distributor, Berjaya Philippines. Berjaya, the company who successfully turned around Mazda and made it one of the biggest nameplates in the country, is poised to weave its magic anew.

You’re not exactly sure how to classify the Trax. Chevrolet officially calls it a crossover, but from some angles, it can actually pass for a hatchback. Now, whether you’re in “camp lowered crossover” or “camp raised hatchback”, one thing is for certain: it’s a vehicle that’s worth more than just the sum of its parts.

“Car of the Year” is an honor not bestowed on just any car. It takes something quite special to elevate a car from being just “good” to being “extraordinary”. See, it’s actually hard to find a bad car nowadays. Sure, there are some cars that are better than others, but for the most part, any modern automobile is better than anything being cranked out five years ago. Such is the playing field the Mazda2 had to overcome to win not just one, but two car of the year trophies—one in Japan and, more importantly, here in the Philippines. The question is: does it deserve the title?

At their annual Media Appreciation Night held at the Volkswagen Bonifacio Global City showroom, the German carmaker outlined their product plans for 2016 after a banner  2015. This includes the introduction of upgrades and enhancements to existing product lines and introduction of sought-after new models.

We already reported that Columbian Autocar Corporation (CAC), the exclusive distributor of Kia Vehicles in the country, has begun pre-selling the 11-seater Grand Carnival last Christmas for just P 1,575,000. The reason for that aggressive pricing can now be told: the passage and implementation of the ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Agreement or AKFTA.

Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC)—the local arm of the Japanese manufacturer—is welcoming the New Year on full throttle after finishing strong, selling more than 22,000 units for the full 12 months last year and selling more than 50 percent of their 2014 sales feat.

Volvo Cars’ all-new XC90 has won the prestigious North American Truck of the Year 2016 Award from a field of strong contenders. This new generation Volvo SUV has been reaping awards since its inception and is now available in all Volvo dealerships nationwide.

Industry leader Petron Corporation continues to blaze new trails in fuels technology with its Tri-Activ gasoline and diesel products. Petron’s Tri-Activ fuels have advanced additives uniquely formulated to meet Philippine driving conditions and cater to the needs of Filipino motorists.

India’s first fully indigenous sedan, the Tata Indigo gets a safer upgrade to go with its frugal diesel performance for 2016.