FEARLESS 2013 FORECAST
Filipinos famished for the frugal, functional
By Tessa R. SalazarPhilippine Daily Inquirer
They say fast, Toyota goes “function.” They say furious, Toyota points to “frugal.” With utter confidence, Toyota’s frediction, er, prediction for the industry for 2013 would be that more car buyers would opt for practicality.
TMP says, “the number of trends that go about in the automotive industry is what keeps the whole business interesting. The decisions of customers these days go beyond the product in itself. Now, consumers are smarter, they do their research and know their cars. Now, they consider more things like aftersales service, resale value and, of course, fuel efficiency.”
“Because of this, we feel that the trends in the coming years will gear toward practical vehicles. Whether it be a subcompact vehicle, multi-purpose vehicle or even a pickup truck, most customers will surely choose a practical vehicle that is suitable to their practical needs,” TMP president Michinobu Sugata told Inquirer Motoring.
In a statement, the TMP team described the automotive industry as “competitive in nature,” and that the year 2013 would definitely be a “very bullish year” for all automotive companies.
“This is because all aspiring car owners have a plethora of car brands to choose from. This challenge is then attributed to the decision-making process of our customers. Therefore, what we aim for next year and the years to come is to not just meet our customers’ expectations but actually go beyond them. All Toyota team members are called out not to be complacent and to practice kaizen at all times to ensure we always deliver what our customers deserve,” Sugata said.
The brand most preferred
With Asia being the fastest-growing market in the world today, how does the world’s No. 1 automaker treat the Philippine market vis-à-vis the Asian market?
“In the Philippines, Toyota is known to be the most preferred automotive brand. In November, the Toyota Global Network ranked the Philippines 19th in total global sales, overtaking Italy. With the Philippine economy expected to grow, the automotive market in the country will be busier in the coming year.”
“TMP greatly contributes to the overall sales of the Toyota global network in the Southeast Asian market along with Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Singapore. The Philippine automotive industry is highly competitive with the addition of new manufacturers joining the market and aggressive strategies by competition,” asserted Sugata.
TMP said that it is also proud to have one of the best Toyota manufacturing plants in the world. The country’s best-selling vehicles—the Vios and the Innova—are assembled locally. These well-loved vehicles are produced in its eco-friendly Sta. Rosa, Laguna plant, making it an invaluable asset of Toyota in the Asian market.
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Tags: auto , Automotive , forecasts , Motoring , Philippines , Toyota
