BIZ BUZZ: Wanted: over 300 Toyota Prados
It’s been a great 35 years for the world’s largest automaker, Toyota, in the Philippines with its partnership with the Ty family looking stronger than ever.
And if what Biz Buzz hears is accurate, there’s no way but up for the partnership that’s behind Toyota Motors Philippines.
The main indicator of this, of course, is the strong demand for the Japanese carmaker’s vehicles and long waiting lists for its upscale models like the Land Cruiser LC 300 and the Alphard luxury van, both the outgoing and new models.
But it looks like Toyota’s newest baby will beat all these queuing records, if what we’re hearing is accurate.
According to our sources, the new version of the Toyota Prado—set to be introduced in the local market next year—is already the hottest vehicle in the brand’s stable, even if not a single unit has yet to land on Philippine shores (and there’s no indication yet exactly when that will happen).
Word on the street is that there are now “over 300 reservations” lodged with various Toyota dealers nationwide for the new Prado (which is being marketed as a junior version of the Land Cruiser).
Prospective buyers know it will be a long wait before they get to drive one, but many don’t seem to mind, we hear.
—Daxim L. Lucas
Slater Young wants peace
Social media personality, civil engineer and entrepreneur Slater Young wants to make peace with online detractors amid the recent public backlash that ensued after his team unveiled a controversial upscale residential project in Cebu.
The big reveal of the Banaue Rice Terraces-inspired The Rise at Monterrazas was a huge hit on Young’s Youtube Chanel. But the project, rising on a mountainside in Cebu City, also drew condemnation from environmentalists and advocates of sustainable design.
In a statement to media, Young said he has heard “all your sincere concerns” and they commit to improve the project further.
“Rest assured we shall engage even more expert groups and environmental advocates to look over our plans,” Young said.
“Our goal here is to listen and to cooperate,” he added.
Young also spoke proudly of their experienced roster of “architects, competent engineers, and sustainability experts.”
“We went through about 300 revisions just to make sure that we plan and build this accordingly,” he said.
Interestingly, the statement said the project had already secured the environmental compliance certificate from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. This was a key requirement before construction can begin.
Meanwhile, we suspect those hundreds revisions did little to appease those who had valid concerns over the fundamental nature of the design and its impact to the surrounding communities. But Young promised to update the public on the status of this project, probably on his YouTube channel.
“I shall continue to update as we go along because the people deserves full transparency; and we do share the same concerns for the environment and we will continue to listen,” he said.
