If you’re wondering whether Ayala will give up more car dealerships after Volkswagen and Honda, don’t brace for any more tearful goodbyes-at least for now.
Reliable industry sources told Biz Buzz that Honda is the last vehicle brand that the mobility unit of the country’s oldest conglomerate wants to let go of.
Earlier, Globe-led 917Ventures likewise pulled the plug on scooter maker Gogoro while Integrated Micro-Electronics gave up KTM bikes.
BYD is undoubtedly the hottest brand of AC Mobility at this time, and its best bet in the rapidly growing electric vehicle market. We see more and more BYD cars on the road, which means that this bet is paying off.
But for some people who don’t want to drive cars from China (including those who silently protest the Middle Kingdom’s actions in the West Philippine Sea by avoiding their brands), AC Mobility still has Isuzu and Kia to offer.
Meanwhile, Ayala’s Isuzu dealership, from what we hear, is doing well, while Kia is expected to benefit from an earlier management shakeup. Thus, these two brands are likely to stay in their basket for now.
‘Never say never, but for now, that’s it,’ our source said.
And now that it has shed its excess fat, AC Mobility is in a much better shape to race. -Doris Dumlao-Abadilla
No long lines for our teachers at Naia 2
A dedicated lane for dedicated mentors? Yes!
Teachers flying with AirAsia Philippines can enjoy smoother boarding with a special check-in lane at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 2.
The low-cost carrier said this would be in place from Oct. 1 to Oct. 10, in honor of National Teachers’ Month.
Teachers traveling on Oct. 5, World Teachers’ Day, will also get exclusive AirAsia Santan merchandise.
‘At AirAsia Philippines, we deeply value our educators. Behind their hard work and perseverance, we recognize their need for well-deserved breaks-whether for a visit to loved ones, relaxation at leisure destinations, or simply a mental health break,’ AirAsia Philippines president and CEO Suresh Bangah said.
For the first six months, AirAsia flew more than 3 million passengers. Its strongest domestic routes during the period were Caticlan, Cebu and Cagayan de Oro. It also logged strong demand for Japan, South Korea and Taipei. -Lisbet K. Esmael
High-level agri meeting
The government is anticipating a bountiful harvest from the 47th Asean Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (Amaf) Meeting in Pasay this week.
Ahead of the meeting, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. laid out what the government wants from high-level discussions or bilateral talks.
For one, the government will do everything possible to promote Philippine agricultural products in global markets.
In recent days, Tiu Laurel has been very busy meeting representatives from neighboring countries, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the US-Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Business Council.
On a wider scale, the Asean meeting hopes to boost agri production and trade across the region. The bloc aspires to become one of the world’s largest food producers by 2045.
Led by Tiu Laurel, the Philippines will chair the Amaf meeting for a year, succeeding Myanmar. One of the highlights this year is the mechanization forum scheduled in November.
The agriculture chief may be dealing with a lot of challenges-from declining palay (unmilled rice) prices and ‘ghost’ farm-to-market road projects to severe weather conditions that ravaged some of the country’s farm lands.
Still, let’s hope the Philippines will reap the benefits of its efforts in this Asean meeting. -Jordeene B. Lagare