The Philippine trucking and logistics sector reached an essential milestone as the Truck Manufacturers Association Inc (TMA) and the Automotive Body Manufacturers Association of the Philippines Inc (Abmap) officially unveiled the vision behind the 1st Philippine International Truck Show (PITS) during a media briefing in Taguig.
Scheduled for Oct. 22 to 24 at Hall 1 of the SMX Convention Center Manila, the three-day exhibition will run under the theme “Driving Progress Together.” The event serves as the country’s first dedicated commercial vehicle expo, designed to bring truck manufacturers, specialized local coachbuilders, fleet operators, logistics providers, and regulatory agencies onto a single unified platform.
Admission to the inaugural show is free and open to the public.
TMA president Robert D. Carlos emphasized the critical economic role of commercial transport:
“Trucks are essential to practically every sector of our economy, yet there has never been a major show in the Philippines dedicated specifically to bringing the entire truck and commercial vehicle ecosystem together. Through PITS, we want to create that platform. Our theme, ‘Driving Progress Together,’ reflects what we believe is necessary for our industry to move forward. Progress cannot be achieved by manufacturers alone. It requires collaboration among truck brands, body builders, customers, government, transport operators, suppliers, and other stakeholders. PITS is where we bring all of them together.”
Cab meets chassis: Global tech, local craft unite
The core defining element of PITS is the direct operational synergy between TMA and Abmap. For commercial vehicle buyers, purchasing a vehicle extends beyond selecting a cab and chassis; it requires matching the underlying running gear to purpose-built body applications engineered for Philippine roads and operating conditions.
Abmap vice president for internal affairs Conrad Almazora highlighted the value of local fabrication: “A truck becomes truly valuable to a business when it is configured for the work it needs to perform. Philippine body builders understand our local operating conditions and the diverse requirements of Filipino businesses, and we have developed capabilities to provide solutions for many different applications. Through PITS, customers will be able to see how truck manufacturers and body builders work together to provide complete transport solutions. At the same time, we want to showcase Philippine body-building capability and encourage greater collaboration, innovation, and local value creation within the commercial vehicle industry.”
Participating truck OEMs and local body builders
Visitors will be able to inspect a wide spectrum of commercial vehicles—spanning light-duty urban delivery haulers, medium-duty distribution units, and heavy-duty prime movers, alongside specialized passenger utility vehicles:
o Exhibits from established manufacturers and distributors including Isuzu, Hino, Toyota, FUSO, Foton, DAF, JMC, CMC Commercial Vehicles, and MAN.
o Custom local body solutions engineered by Almazora, Centro, F. Cura Industries, Geordan, Kyoei Autobody, and Santarosa.
o Body configurations: Standard aluminum cargo boxes, refrigerated cold-chain vans, hydraulic wing vans, dropside flatbeds, heavy dumpers, and specialized passenger movers.
Tailored for fleets, MSMEs, and public transport
PITS provides fleet managers, logistics companies, contractors, agricultural cooperatives, and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with a comprehensive one-stop sourcing destination. Prospective buyers can compare chassis engineering, discuss duty-cycle requirements, consult directly with body builders, and evaluate alternative-fuel and new-energy vehicle options.
To maximize value for attendees, participating exhibitors will roll out event-exclusive show discounts, fleet financing packages, and promotional aftersales bundles throughout the three-day convention.
Mark your calendars, from Oct. 22 to 24, at Hall 1, SMX Convention Center Manila, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City. The show is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Oct. 22 and 23, and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Oct. 24. Admission is free.
Follow the 1st Philippine International Truck Show at its official Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/share/19NFrLYqu7/.
Banner image taken from PITS Facebook page