Although the sales figures haven’t come in yet, it is interesting to note that the on-going public voting for the 2014-2015 Auto Focus People’s Choice Awards (AFPCA) shows quite a number of dark horses leading top selling models and most of last year’s winners in the run for Model and Automobile of the Year honors in both the Standard and Luxury categories.
Based purely on votes in the Standard model categories, the only winner from last year that is holding well at the top is the Ford Explorer (Large SUV). Similarly in the Luxury categories, only two of last year’s Model of the Year winners – the BMW X5 (Midsize SUV) and the Audi Q3 (Open Class) – have found their way atop in this year’s standings, which will now give separate “Automobile of the Year” awards for Standard and Luxury models. And while the Top 2 positions for the coveted “Automobile of the Year” title in the Standard classification are currently being held by the Hyundai Accent and Mazda 3, and by the Lexus IS350 and Porsche Macan among Luxury models, the race across the board without the sales figures report from Stradcom as authenticated by the LTO (Land Transportation Office) is still considered wide open.
Historically, voting gets heated up midway through the 3-month period of the public polls. With the sales report expected to start coming in any week now the voting rush to even up or negate the leads produced by the unit sales just might start earlier considering that voting can now be done everyday. Once the sales of the 1st quarter are factored in the equation together with the votes cast, the standings are expected to undergo quite a shake-up.
The AFPCA, an annual undertaking of Sunshine Television Production and Marketing Services Corporation (STV) is now on its’ 10th year. It is the country’s only award system for the automotive industry that determines the winning models based on a unique selection process that combines on-line public votes and unit sales. The on-line poll is being hosted on a dedicated AFPCA page on Facebook, the popular social networking site. After a simple procedure of “Liking” the page and registration, the voter is prompted and guided through a convenient process of selecting individual models in the designated categories, and from these, choosing a particular model as the “Automobile of the Year” pick. Within seconds, any submitted vote will appear on the Results Page, which will rank Total Scores accordingly. Voting as well as a real-time preview of the tally can be accessed at the AFPCA web-site at www.autofocus.com.ph. More so, voters get a chance at winning prizes in daily raffles.
Like last year, a 40 percent weight factor on on-line votes will be applied in calculating a particular model’s total score. For unit sales, a value of 60 percent will be factored in. STV is again working together with the Stradcom Corporation with official sanction from the Land Transportation Office (LTO). To be created and referenced is a database of new motor vehicles reported as sold by dealers to LTO Regional & District Offices via the Manufacturers, Assemblers, Importers, Dealers Reporting System module of the LTO IT System. No second-hand or grey market vehicle will be included in the count, which will factor in monthly unit sales from January thru end September of 2014.
With unit sales now integral to the selection process, the organizers believe it was timely and ideal that “Automobile of the Year” awards should be given separately for Standard and Luxury models. It renders the AFPCA as a more equitable merit program that levels out the wide disparity between low volume top end cars and high volume lower priced models. Unlike before, the high-priced luxury automobiles stood at a disadvantage for the prized “Automobile of the Year” award given their understandably lower sales off-take. With Standard and Luxury distinctions already in place in the Model of the Year categories, it made complete sense to extend this all the way to the top. With separate “Automobile of the Year” awards for the Standard and Luxury classifications, industry players get credit and honor where it is due and appropriate. Apples will be apples, and oranges will be oranges.
On tap are “2014-2015 AFPCA Model of the Year” awards in such mainstream categories as: Sub-compact, mid-size & large sedans; sports/performance cars; multi-purpose vehicles (MPV’s); pick-ups; vans; compact, mid-size & large sports utility vehicles (SUV’s) and an Open category for models that cannot be classified in the preceding classes. There will be separate “Luxury” classifications in model categories with significantly distinct pricing scales. From these categories, which currently comprise over 140 base models, will emerge the popular pick for the key “2014-2015 AFPCA Automobile of the Year” prize in distinct Standard and Luxury classifications.
Auto industry braces for ASEAN integration
The Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors (AVID) dialogue on the opportunities and challenges posed by the ASEAN Integration 2015 in its recent Thought Leadership Forum (TLF).
Themed “Come Unity, Setting Directions for one ASEAN,” the activity took place last July 30 at the Asian Institute of Management Conference Center.
In a statement, AVID president Ms. Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo said, “AVID is always in step with market movement. As a member country of one of the most important economic blocks in the world today, we look forward to what the AEC has to bring for the Philippines. The AEC is changing the game for Philippine business and it’s time for us in the automotive industry to take stock, step up, and move as one, establish a policy environment and incentives structure that are synchronized with regional and global developments; push for a level playing field for the entire industry; and ultimately, uphold consumer welfare. In that way, we sustain our Industry and contribute to maintaining our country’s momentum as an emergent power player in the region.”
All other local industries in the country have been exerting similar efforts to level up competitiveness faced with the prospect of having to deal with a much larger market with the impending ASEAN integration, which will happen next year.
Global standardization of Kia dealerships
Make no mistake about it. When you go visit any of the following Kia dealerships, namely; Kia Marcos Highway, Kia Pasay and Kia Quirino, you’ll see a mirror image of each other. They bear the universal standard for all Kia delearships referred to as Global Space Identity or GSI.
GSI showrooms have visual aesthetics consistent and unique to Kia Motors dealerships all over the world. As a dynamic and ever-evolving brand, Kia hopes to further develop a dealership environment that meets, and surpasses, the highest expectation of customers.
In the Philippines, Columbian Autocar Corporation (CAC), exclusive distributor of Kia Motors in the Philippines, prides itself by continuously raising the bar for its Kia dealerships to achieve the vibrant and premium aesthetic that GSI showrooms warrant. CAC recently announced that such distinct dealership environments are already applied by select Kia dealers, particularly those owned and managed by the Autocirculo Corporation.
Autocirculo Corporation, is under the helm of its principal leader and automotive veteran, Augusto “Butch” Chavez Camacho, and has a long-standing partnership with CAC and this collaboration is recognized by CAC as reaping benefits for Kia customers.
Miss it no more
If you have not been watching Auto Focus (Thursday, 10pm, Sky cable Channel 13) the weekly automobile show lately for one reason or another, miss it no more by just logging on to its cyberspace version, Auto Focus ONLINE (www.autofocus.com.ph) the first all-video auto news and features on-line magazine.
This week on the TV show Auto Focus we shall have on the Q&A portion the lovely lady president of Asian Carmakers, Ms. Maricar Parco answering questions about BMW from motoring journalists Manny de los Reyes, motoring editor of The Philippine STAR and Vernon Sarne, editor-in-chief of Top Gear magazine and myself. And this would also be on the Q&A page of Auto Focus ONLINE, one of the most-visited pages of the automobile website.
But that’s not the complete story. Very soon, viewers if the TV show, Motoring Today will soon have all its contents similarly on the web. Watch for airing of Motoring Today ONLINE—very soon.
Happy Motoring!!!
For comments email motoringtoday-star@stv.com.ph or sunshine.television@yahoo.com.ph.