Doors open for Manila Int’l Auto Show

MANILA, Philippines—The automotive sector may be hounded by issues such as escalating oil prices and reduced production in Japan, but these will not stop local auto enthusiasts from converging to witness the best that the industry has to offer, now and in the future.

This year’s installment of the Manila International Auto Show, the country’s largest showcase of automotive offerings and technologies opening on Thursday and lasting until Sunday at the World Trade Center, promises to be the biggest in the show’s seven-year history.

With the theme “Automotive Evolution,” MIAS 2011 promises to showcase “the advanced capabilities of today’s cars in terms of technology, fuel efficiency and performance.”

According to Jill Ang, managing director of show organizer Worldbex Services International, this year’s show expects to attract even more than the 78,000 attendees that came to the show last year.

It also features more highlights, she says, with the show now occupying three venues—the World Trade Center, World Trade Center East Wing and Philippine Trade Training Center—spanning 23,000 square meters.

“We’re definitely mounting a bigger event this year. Last year, we only occupied two venues, the World Trade Center and the East Wing. This year, we’ve added a third venue, the PTTC, which will house the vintage and custom car competition and also the announcement of the Car of the Year on the night of the first day,” she relates in an interview.

The Car of the Year award, which usually comes ahead of the MIAS, will now be given on the first night of the four-day show. The coverage of the award will also go beyond one year and instead span two years (2010-2011).

Other event highlights include a stunt show, the European Mobile Media competition, which will feature the best in-vehicle gadgets and technologies, and the launch of new vehicle models by various manufacturers.

Ang says some customized cars owned by celebrities will also be featured in the show.

“We can’t disclose yet which celebrities will have their cars there, but we’ll definitely have a few of those in the show,” she relates. “An amphibian vehicle called the Croc, which the (Armed Forces of the Philippines) developed will also be unveiled there. Chery will also be bringing in an electric car.”

Other vehicles to be placed on the limelight during the show include the Ford Fiesta, Hyundai Elantra, Subaru Forester, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet, Jaguar XF Diesel S, Chevrolet Spark, Audi A8, BMW X3, Mini Countryman, Foton View Custom Van, Chana Starlight II, Honda Jazz and Mitsubishi Montero Sport GTV.

All in all, 27 brands will be displaying more than 300 vehicles.

The crisis in Japan is not expected to dampen the mood at this year’s MIAS, Ang says.

“Most of the Japanese brands have plants here, so we don’t see much of a problem. Also, there’s not much impact on the show as we also have European, American and Chinese brands, not just Japanese. We still expect to put on a big show, the biggest show we’ve mounted so far,” she relates.