RUMORS ARE RIFE THAT A car company is given at most five years of survival. As early as now, its employees are on survival mode, scrambling for jobs left and right. That’s all understandable considering the times but it still needs to provide the best service to its customers for the next five years. Tessa R. Salazar
Price of luxury
This luxury car distributor may have exclusive rights to the best brands enthusiasts would die for, but its media skills are basically zero. It’s been wondering aloud, asking the media why there have not been as many writeups of its brands like those of other luxury brands. Problem is, it can’t even allow media to take its performance cars out of the parking lot without sales agents in tow. TRSalazar
Still a good year
After five decades of operating a manufacturing facility in the Philippines, Goodyear has closed its plant. David Joseph Morin bid farewell for a new appointment in Shanghai. On Oct.1, Gerry Alava became the first Filipino managing director for Good Year Philippines in its 53-year history after spending time as general manager for business operations. TRSalazar
Tribdino’s daring jump
Former Nissan Motor Philippines pointman Raymond B. Tribdino has just moved on to Iseway Motors after so many years in NMPI. Raymond’s jump from a known and trusted Japanese car company to a relatively unknown Chinese came as a shock to friends. There are reports he had serious disagreements with his Taiwanese bosses in Sta. Rosa over the so-called “no media test drive” policy. TRSalazar
New covenant
After 15 fruitful years with Viking Cars Inc (the exclusive distributor of Volvo in the country), lawyer Albert Arcilla is moving on to Covenant Car Company, the new distributor of Chevy vehicles in the country. This is the first time a Filipino will lead the Chevy brand whose top three best selling units are the Captiva, Aveo and the Optra. Arcilla hopes to use his long experience with Volvo, which has been a relatively stable brand here, in his mission to resurrect Chevy from the doldrums. TRSalazar
LAUNCHES: Ford is launching the limited edition Ford Escape a 4X2 carrying the accessories of the 4X4 version at the Auto Focus Motorshow and Auto Expo on Nov. 5. Mitsubishi Motors and Fuso are launching the next-gen Jeepney on Nov. 10 PARTY TIME: Honda celebrates a milestones after sales of the Civic breached 100,000 units sold since its introduction in 1991.
