The world and our future

Manila, Philippines - Automobile show season is upon us and we’ve covered all the possible bases so far. In a span of less than two months, we at The Philippine STAR have weaved through Bangkok, Manila and Shanghai in order to get a glimpse of what is in store for us in the coming months and years – and in turn to give you, our readers, a glimpse of the future as well.

While in Bangkok, we came face to face with the future of the pickup truck – with both Ford and Chevrolet giving us a sneak peek at the new Ranger and Colorado, respectively. Both these workhorses are set to arrive in local showrooms within a year’s time. Meanwhile, at the recently concluded Manila International Auto Show, several launches were staged. And as much as we’re excited to have the likes of the new Audi A8, Chevrolet Cruze Diesel, Hyundai Elantra, Jeep Grand Cherokee, MINI Countryman, Subaru Forester and Volvo V60 here with us now, we are also eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Chevrolet Traverse and the Chevrolet Orlando, which were displayed as soon-to-arrive models. In Shanghai, there were simply too many automobiles to mention. We did, however, gain invaluable information about the arrival of some key automobile brands into Philippine shores the details of which, unfortunately, we are not yet at liberty to discuss. Still, one thing remains clear… For the local automotive industry, the future looks bright!

The one clear message that we get from attending these international automobile shows is that there are possibilities galore for our own industry’s growth. While it is clear that the local automotive industry is on an upswing, what with banks and financial institutions now providing the much needed push for the industry, seeing the bigger picture makes us realize that the room for growth is even bigger than most of us can imagine. There are simply too many models, makes and brands out there that sooner or later can, should and will make a push for your hard-earned money.

This fact only bodes well for the Filipino end-consumer. Once upon a time, at our automobile industry’s lowest point, we had to settle for second hand cars if not hand me downs from other countries. With our buying power increased, and with the maturation of the local automotive industry, we’re now blessed with the power of choice. Best of all, exactly because forecasts show that our market is emerging, this power of choice that we speak of is bound to increase exponentially. More choices also means we can expect better products and services, as well as more competitive pricing. These are exciting times, indeed.

What’s in store in our near future is a setting where we are kings. Fair warning is thus in order. As monarchs of our own automotive realm, we also ought to embrace our power to choose responsibly. And by that, we mean choosing the car that we know we can not just afford to buy, but also afford to maintain, drive, ride and own properly. From what we’ve seen, we can confidently say that the future of our automotive industry is bright, to say the very least. It is incumbent upon us to ensure that we keep that momentum and continue moving in a positive direction. Remember the immortal words of Peter Parker’s Uncle Ben… “With great power comes great responsibility.”