THERE are motor shows and there are other motor shows, but when mere participants decide to change their role into a much bigger one, the result can put to shame all the motor shows of the past.  And that is what the influential Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. or Campi wants—to surpass all the big motor shows that were ever staged in the country.

With that in mind, Campi recently launched the 1st Philippine International Motor Show, which “aims to produce a legitimate contender in the global arena of international auto shows.”

The organization, which boasts of 12 global auto brands, expects the First Philippine International Motor Show to come up to the level of its prestigious counterparts such as the Tokyo Motor Show, Detroit Motor Show and New York Motor Show, among others.

Scheduled from August 9 to 12 of this year at the World Trade Center, “this most anticipated event will showcase the latest the industry has to offer, and then some. You will see many expressions of driving pleasure from all the global brands to suit your taste, needs, wants…from sports cars to SUVs, vehicles that are ‘fun to use,’ ‘go anywhere and back,’ smooth rides, to tough rugged performance vehicles,” said Campi president Elizabeth Lee.

Lee also underscored the importance of the cooperation of all the members of the organization in the holding of the major event. “With the theme ‘Shifting to Higher Gear,’ the industry has come together in an effort that binds us together; an undertaking that will strengthen us even more as a force to be reckoned with in the business community,” Lee added.

“After 12 years since Campi’s inception, it is about time we put up our own auto show that also celebrates the global quality standard of vehicles within member-brands’ product line-up, assembled by our very own Filipino auto workers of which we are proud of. As we shift into the future, we will continue to strive to provide vehicles that cater to the needs of the growing market; sustain and grow local employment; and continue to contribute significantly to the economy,” she said.

Campi members include: Asian Carmakers Corp. (BMW); Columbian Autocar Corp. (Kia); General Motors Automobiles Philippines Inc.; Honda Cars Philippines Inc.; Hyundai Asia Resources Inc.; Isuzu Philippines Corp.; Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp., Nissan Motor Philippines, Inc.; PGA Cars Inc. (Porsche and Audi); Scandinavian Motors Corp. (Volvo); Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. and Universal Motors Corp. (Nissan LCVs).

Set to go on display are the car industry’s latest products, models, services, parts, components, accessories and related technologies, including entries from the motorcycle industry and many others.  An array of impressive pavilions and trade activities from the global auto manufacturers will also be presented in the four-day exhibit.

The motor show will also feature special activities such as seminars, contests and product showcases, along with test drives and media galleries, which are all set to engage and impress first-time local and foreign attendees.  Special highlights also include visits by international experts and engineers as well as the unveiling of an “Automobilia” exhibit together with sports celebrity appearances that are expected to be crowd-drawers during the event.

Lee noted the hard work of the organization in the past and its vision for the future. “The past years have been challenging, but time has finally come to shift the industry’s future for the better. This year, we are poised to exceed, surpass and hurdle the100,000 benchmark. The industry is now ‘shifting to higher gear.’ And it will continue to gain more ground, showing a stronger, more robust growth for the year.

“We continue to churn out new models that cater to the needs, or even whims, of our buyers, short of customizing them even. Our marketing teams employ the most dynamic approaches that also pave way for the education of the market.

“Banks have also joined in the fray, making it relatively easier for buyers to purchase vehicles. Although there is still a lot of work to be done to further strengthen and support industry growth fundamentals, at the very least, these make up the ingredients of a more attractive and aggressive auto industry with more exciting things to come.”

In the end, Lee commented that the “the industry is gearing towards a future characterized by trade liberalization, open-border economies, market integration and standards harmonization. Campi is actively involved in laying down the groundwork, in terms of policy and regulatory framework, to prepare the local industry in facing the emerging environment and ensure that the industry’s growth is in step with future growth and developments. And with our First Philippine International Motor Show, we will demonstrate the local industry’s strength as an integral part of the growing regional auto landscape.”

SIMPLY observing the aggressive campaign and the resulting performance in the market of Hyundai, one would see the obvious: the brand is making waves and disrupting the traditional sales flow of the more established automotive manufacturers in the country like Toyota, Honda, Isuzu and Ford.

THERE are motor shows and there are other motor shows, but when mere participants decide to change their role into a much bigger one, the result can put to shame all the motor shows of the past.  And that is what the influential Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. or Campi wants—to surpass all the big motor shows that were ever staged in the country.

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