TessDrive compiles the corporate movements of automobile companies in the past weeks to give you a bird’s eye view of the rapidly-evolving mobility landscape.
VinFast expands to Cebu with new showroom and EV lineup
Fast-growing BEV brand VinFast, in partnership with TJ Motors Ventures Corp, expanded its presence in the Philippines with the opening of its Cebu South showroom at Il Corso Filinvest Malls on Cebu South Coastal Road. The grand opening, which took place on May 15, marked a significant milestone in making battery electric mobility accessible beyond Metro Manila.
The facility features a modern showroom, sales consultation areas, and test-drive coordination spaces. It showcases VinFast’s expanding lineup, including the newly introduced VinFast MPV 7—a family-oriented 7-seater—and the Limo Green, a full BEV tailored for fleet operations.
VinFast Philippines CEO Rhomel Franco said: “As more Filipinos begin to reassess their mobility choices amid rising fuel costs, there is a growing need for solutions that are both practical and sustainable. The opening of our Cebu South showroom allows us to bring electric mobility closer to communities in the Visayas and support their transition toward more efficient everyday transport.”
TJ Motors Ventures Corp chairman Jonathan Cua added: “Cebu continues to be a key market for mobility and economic growth in the Visayas. Through our partnership with VinFast, we are proud to introduce EVs to the local community and provide a more accessible way for individuals and businesses to explore sustainable transport options.”
The showroom is open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
For more information about VinFast Philippines, visit its official website https://vinfastauto.ph/en.
Honda Cars inaugurates first dealership in eastern Visayas
Honda Cars Philippines Inc (HCPI) officially opened Honda Cars Tacloban April 28, marking its first official dealership in Region 8. Located near Bethel International School in Barangay Pawing, Palo, Leyte, the 2,145-sqm facility is operated under Topcars Autoworld Corp. It houses Honda’s latest model lineup and state-of-the-art facilities for preventive maintenance, general repairs, and bodywork.
The inauguration was attended by Palo, Leyte Municipal Mayor Hon. Remedios “Matin” L. Petilla, alongside top executives from HCPI and Topcars Autoworld Corp.
HCPI president Hidekazu Arai said: “For many years, our presence in this market (Region 8) has been limited, and we have only been able to reach our customers in Tacloban through caravan activities. With the opening of Honda Cars Tacloban, we can now provide a more consistent, more accessible, and more complete customer experience that Honda owners truly deserve. This dealership strengthens our presence in the region and allows us to offer full services, from sales to after-sales support. It also helps us build long-term relationships with our customers in Tacloban.”
The showroom operates Monday to Sunday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with service operations open Monday to Saturday.
For more information about Honda Cars Philippines, visit its official website https://www.hondaphil.com/.
Toyota breaks ground on first Leyte service center in Palo
Following its recent regional expansions, Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP), in collaboration with Toyota Tacloban, Leyte Inc, commenced development of its very first service center in Leyte on June 1. Located in the first-class municipality of Palo—a major transit and commercial hub traversed by the Pan-Philippine Highway—the upcoming facility is slated to open by mid-2027.
The 6,000-sqm facility will feature a modern showroom, 32 fully equipped service bays, and a comprehensive service suite covering express maintenance, periodic maintenance, and general repairs.
TMP senior vice president for marketing Sherwin Chua-Lim said, “For the past 13 years, Toyota Tacloban has been committed to the Toyota brand through providing quality products and services to our customers. And over time, have gained the trust of 28,000 customers to date, reflecting the confidence that the people of Leyte have placed in us.”
Toyota Tacloban, Leyte Inc president Jimmy T. Yaokasin added, “This groundbreaking ceremony is not simply about constructing another service center. It is about preparing for the next generation. Anyone can build only for today’s needs, today’s demand, or today’s convenience. As we look around our province today, we see rapid change everywhere. Technology is evolving, mobility is happening, and customer expectations continue to rise. The needs of our communities are growing, and this expansion is our response to that future.”
For more information about Toyota Motor Philippines, visit its official website https://toyota.com.ph/.
Ford Mobile Showroom tours Visayas Region
Ford Philippines launched a series of “showroom-on-the-go” deployments across the Visayas, allowing customers to test drive vehicles and access exclusive offers outside traditional dealership networks.
The mobile showroom completed a successful run at Robinson’s Antique April 23 to 26, before heading to Kalibo, Aklan May 4 to 9. It concluded its latest tour in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, running until May 22. Featured vehicles included the Everest, Ranger, and the Territory Hybrid, which boasts a fuel economy of 19.6 km/liter and a range of up to 1,000 km per tank.
Ford Philippines marketing director Mark Parulan said during the campaign: “Our mobile showroom reflects our commitment to putting the customer first by being where our customers are. By bringing our vehicles closer to communities in the Visayas, we are making it easier for more customers to explore our lineup, experience our products firsthand, and connect with the Ford brand in an easier and more convenient way.
“We are committed to expand the reach of our mobile showroom and bring the Ford dealership experience to more customers. By tapping the potential of cities like San Carlos City, we are fulfilling our promise to our customers to be where they are and offer them the ease and convenience of owning their dream Ford.”
For more information about Ford Philippines, visit its official website https://www.ford.com.ph/.
Toyota reaffirms commitment to PH-Japan economic synergy
At the recent high-level Tokyo Business Roundtable, Toyota reaffirmed its long-term manufacturing and ecosystem commitment to the Philippines, framing its role as a core builder of the nation’s commercial infrastructure.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr underscored the long-term value of Japanese enterprise during the meeting: “Japanese companies have long been part of the Philippine story. But today, I want to say this clearly: You are no longer just investors in our economy; you are the builders of our economy. Across infrastructure, manufacturing, energy, mobility, logistics, digital transformation, trade, tourism, and services, Japanese enterprise has become deeply embedded in the Philippine development journey.”
Representing Toyota Motor Corp (TMC), Asia Region CEO Masahiko Maeda highlighted Toyota’s 38-year footprint, spearheaded by complete knocked-down (CKD) operations for models like the Vios, Innova, and the new Tamaraw MSME commercial vehicle. Maeda also highlighted export milestones via Toyota Aisin Philippines Inc (TAP), which has exported over $3.8 billion in manual transmissions globally.
Addressing future decarbonization under the Asian Zero Emission Community (AZEC) framework, Maeda said: “Toyota remains committed to being a reliable, long-term partner to the Philippines supporting industrial development and Asean cooperation. We encourage the government to promote CKD-based local manufacturing across all technologies. This will help micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), deepen localization, strengthen local suppliers including conversions, attract investment, and sustain employment.”
Maeda also advocated for biofuels like E20 and B5 to support the local agricultural sector and secure an economically inclusive energy supply chain.
BMW fleet anchors mobility for the Asean 2026 Summit
SMC Asia Car Distributors Corp, the official importer and distributor of BMW in the Philippines, successfully concluded its role as official premium mobility partner for the Asean 2026 Summit. The company deployed a dedicated 125-vehicle fleet to service heads of state, diplomats, and senior officials during the high-level regional gathering hosted by the Philippines.
The specialized summit fleet consisted of:
o 25 BMW 760i Protection sedans for heads of state, offering high-security engineering without compromising flagship luxury;
o 70 BMW X3 30e xDrive plug-in hybrid SAVs for visiting diplomats, balancing versatility with electrified efficiency, and;
o 30 BMW i5 eDrive40 fully electric executive sedans, reinforcing the summit’s push toward zero-tailpipe-emission mobility;
BMW technical teams provided round-the-clock on-site support to ensure seamless operation across all official summit venues.
For more information about BMW Philippines, visit its official website https://www.bmw.com.ph/.
Isuzu Philippines elevates service standards at 21st ISSO
Isuzu Philippines Corp (IPC) hosted its 21st Isuzu Service Skills Olympics (ISSO) in Biñan, Laguna, gathering 113 top-performing dealer service personnel nationwide. Under the theme “Mastering Skills, Leading the Future,” the rigorous competition evaluated technical knowledge, practical troubleshooting, parts operations, and customer handling.
Isuzu Cagayan De Oro was crowned the 21st ISSO dealer grand champion. Individual category champions included Frederic Luna of Isuzu Pasig (parts staff), Mark Louie Malipol of Isuzu Batangas (service advisor), and the team of Rainer Morales and Marco Comora from Isuzu Alabang (service technicians). Jereme Asilum of Isuzu Makati received the top service technician award.
IPC executive vice president Yasuhiko Oyama said: “At Isuzu, we understand that our customers depend on their vehicles every day for business, livelihood, and family needs. This is why we continue to invest in programs like the Isuzu Service Skills Olympics—to further strengthen the skills and capabilities of our service personnel nationwide. Through continuous learning and improvement, we aim to help keep our customers’ vehicles running at their best, minimize downtime, and provide them with the confidence and peace of mind they deserve every time they visit our dealerships.”
IPC vice president for aftersales Hodaka Matsuda added, “At Isuzu, our commitment goes beyond providing dependable vehicles. We continuously strive to deliver reliable, high-quality aftersales support that gives our customers greater confidence, convenience, and peace of mind throughout the life of their vehicles. Through programs like the Isuzu Service Skills Olympics, we continue to strengthen our service standards and ensure that our customers receive the best care every time they visit our dealerships.”
For more information about Isuzu Philippines Corp, visit its official website https://www.isuzuphil.com/.
MG Philippines hosts ‘MG United as One’ owner meet
MG Motor Philippines gathered its growing owner community for “MG United as One,” a special meet-and-greet event held at Under the Balete in Quezon City.
The social gathering brought together members of various local owner clubs and model groups, ranging from internal combustion sedans and SUVs to the brand’s newer electrified models. The event served as a collaborative platform for car enthusiasts to share ownership experiences, receive exclusive updates directly from the brand, and strengthen relations between MG Motor Philippines and its customer base. The company notes that this gathering marks the beginning of an expanded lineup of owner-focused activities scheduled for the coming months.
For more information about MG Motor Philippines, visit its official website https://mgmotor.com.ph/.
Lexus Showcases Electrified Luxury at NTCC Golf Tournament
Lexus Manila renewed its partnership with the National Tournament of Club Champions (NTCC) 2026, which took place May 27-31 at the Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club in General Trias, Cavite. The premier amateur competition gathered top club champions from 30 golf clubs across the country.
Lexus showcased a curated lineup of luxury and electrified vehicles throughout the tournament week, including the new IS F Sport, NX 350h Executive, RX 350h Executive, GX Overtrail, LX 700h Premier, and the LM 350h 7-Seater. In addition to vehicle displays, Lexus awarded special prizes to the winners and provided dedicated, chauffeured Lexus rides for the six tournament finalists during championship Sunday.
For more information about Lexus Philippines, visit its official website https://www.lexus.com.ph/en.html.
Kia outlines roadmap for global transformation, innovation
At its 2026 CEO Investor Day in Seoul, Kia Corp presented its mid-to-long-term strategies, targeting global sales of 4.13 million units by 2030. The roadmap details an aggressive expansion across BEVs, HEVs, platform beyond vehicles (PBVs), autonomous driving, and robotics.
Kia Corporation president and CEO Ho Sung Song said: “Building on the achievements of innovation across all areas over the past five years —including brand, EVs, PBVs, and ESG—EVs, HEVs, autonomous driving, and robotics will serve as key drivers for Kia’s fastest growth to date. Even amid the evolving global environment, Kia will proactively respond to changing market conditions through differentiated strategies.”
Multi-pathway powertrain and EV lineup expansion
To address differing global electrification paces, Kia will expand its hybrid lineup to 13 models by 2030, leveraging a next-generation hybrid system that improves fuel efficiency by over 4%. Concurrently, Kia plans to field 14 dedicated EV models by 2030—supported by next-generation batteries yielding 15% higher energy density—and will expand its ultra-fast charging network access to over 1.7 million chargers globally.
PBVs and dedicated production
Kia is establishing a comprehensive ecosystem for its software-defined light commercial vehicles (LCVs). Following the launch of the PV5, Kia will introduce the PV7 in 2027 and the PV9 in 2029, offering up to 40 customizable body types. Production will be centralized at the Hwaseong EVO Plant, backed by integrated fleet management software and dedicated B2B solutions.
Autonomous driving, Boston Dynamics robotics integration
Through Hyundai Motor Group’s partnership with NVidia, Kia is building a “Data Flywheel” to develop proprietary end-to-end (E2E) autonomous driving models. Kia plans to launch its first software-defined vehicle (SDV) by late 2027 featuring Level 2+ highway autonomy, moving to urban Level 2++ capabilities by 2029.
In robotics, Kia is collaborating with Boston Dynamics to invest over $500 million in physical AI, aiming to pioneer last-mile logistics by pairing PBVs with Stretch and Spot robots. Additionally, full-scale deployment of the humanoid robot Atlas will begin at Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in 2028, expanding to Kia AutoLand Georgia in 2029 to transition factories into automated software-defined environments.
For more information on Kia Philippines, visit its official website https://kiaphilippines.com/.