IT’S increasingly becoming obvious that a robust rebound is peering through the clouds. Meaning, the industry is now transforming from road to perdition to road to recovery. As the saying goes whenever a calamity strikes, “There is no way but up.”
Take it from Campi (Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc.) and (Truck Manufacturers of the Philippines). In their latest report, April recorded an amazing 17,843 units sold. Can you believe that in that same period last year, the industry sold only a measly 133 units? An increase of 13,315 units this year is simply incredibly unbelievable.
“This is a record year-on-year sales increase since the advent of the pandemic,” said Campi president Atty. Rommel “Barry Gibb” Gutierrez, eerily noting that the nosedive in 2020 sales “was the sharpest decline in the history of Philippine automotive.”
Also, Gutierrez rued the sales decline of 13.8 percent as a result of “the re-imposition of stricter quarantine restrictions.”
“Tighter bank lending schemes likewise added to the dampening of customer demand for big-ticket items like steady auto purchases,” Gutierrez said. “Additionally, the safeguard deposit dues are burdensome in itself to consumers and industry alike.”
But with 88,155 units sold a while back—an astonishing 36.3-percent increase to last year’s figures—is “an inspiring indication of recovery amid the pandemic.”
Indeed, there’s no way but up, podner.
Lexus RX 350L
HERE is Jade B. Sison once again, highlighting the five reasons why you will fall in love with the new Lexus RX 350L. Jade, of course, is the lead person of Lexus Manila president Raymond T. Rodriguez in information dissemination about Lexus in the Philippines.
“Lexus is known for its luxury crossover SUVs since its introduction of the RX in 1998. It is now easily the best-selling model in the Lexus lineup. Read on:
Space for seven
“One of the most recent additions to the RX lineup is the RX 350L which features an extended body length at 110 mm (4.3 inches), ensuring good headroom for passengers in the spacious third row and greater cargo room behind the third row than competitors offer. Details that enhance three-row versatility in the RX L models include a flat load floor behind the folded third-row, a pair of third-row cupholders, and an easily stowable tonneau and covered slide rails. For convenience, a power-folding third-row seat and power tailgate with hands-free operation are both standard on the RX 350L.
Safety utmost priority
“Your vehicle boasts of a high-strength, collision-absorbing body structure and is equipped with 10 sensor-controlled SRS airbags that line the entire cabin. On the road, wide-angle LED cornering lamps provide additional illumination when you take corners, ensuring excellent pedestrian visibility. Lighting is handled by bi-beam LED auto-leveling headlamps.
“Standard in the RX 350L is Hill-Start Assist Control; Electric Power Steering (EPS); Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) with Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD); Rain-Sensing Wipers; and Clearance and Reverse Sensors, as well as a parking assist monitor which helps in maneuvering in tighter areas.
Fuel-efficient
“The Lexus RX 350L’s 3.5-liter V6 engine employs the advanced D-4S fuel injection system, which combines direct and port fuel injection systems. To maximize efficiency, it uses Variable Valve Timing with intelligence Wide (VVT-iW) along with VVT-i, allowing the engine to switch between Otto and Atkinson combustion cycles. The result is 296hp and 370Nm of torque, with performance and efficiency optimized by an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Takumi technology
“The significant enhancements on the RX 350L that contribute to driving pleasure are the result of changes to the suspension and increased body rigidity. Lexus Chief Engineer Takeaki Kato was determined to deliver a pleasurable driving experience through agile handling and exhilarating driving pleasure, and his engineering team worked closely with the production team to achieve this goal.
Heritage, provenance
“Did you know the RX is the very first luxury crossover SUV to ever wear the Lexus badge? This provenance also explains why the RX is a core model in the Lexus lineup. The constant improvements throughout each iteration reflect the latest design themes of the brand with a balance between sophistication and strength.
Visit https://www.lexus.com.ph/en/lexus-remote.html.
PEE STOP
Ramon S. Ang, the owner of BMW-SMC Greenhills Motors, has deployed San Miguel Corp.’s doctors and nurses to LGUs—for free, mind you—to boost the country’s vaccination drive. So heart-warming indeed as SMC’s 70,000 or so employees await their own inoculation, tentatively set in June with the arrival of SMC’s P1-billion worth of vaccines. “We will help anytime because vaccination is the best way to protect our people from Covid-19,” he said. What a guy!
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