Hiatus, over!

When I was a teenager, back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, the Manila International Auto Show was the auto show to go to in the Philippines. Back then, other shows were only starting to gain traction, whereas MIAS had everything – all the new models to come out for that year, test drive lines so long they exited the building, classic car displays that took up entire wings all by themselves, and don’t even get me started on the Russ Swift Show. For the Filipino car enthusiast, it didn’t really get any better.

Then the pandemic came, and our lives ground to a halt. Every event, cancelled. Every vacation postponed indefinitely. But then the fabled announcement was made: “The Manila International Auto Show is coming back! April 7-10, 2022, at the World Trade Center, Pasay, Metro Manila!” It suddenly created an unbelievable amount of buzz within the car world again. People got excited, myself included. But in the back of our minds, the same question still burned: “Will it be cancelled again, like the last two years?”

Clearly not, as this article wouldn’t exist otherwise.

People poured into the World Trade Center, as they did before, for the Opening day of the Four-day event, and gathered in the halls full of Cars, models, and displays, all itching to get their hands on the latest releases in our market.

MIAS 2022 had that familiar aura of events past. The same feeling of walking those corridors, between displays and booths, and jostling for position to see the latest cars. But at the same time, it was different. It was almost as if a great weight had been lifted off of those in the crowd, that the event was really happening, and we could, in some way, recapture life before the pandemic.

Maybe it was the water, or the carshow models, but the crowd was excited to see all the booths, and see the new cars being launched. Personally, I felt like I was in my element, getting into the carpet for the shot I needed, and getting that perfect shot as the spotlight crosses the car and lights it up.

This year, though, MIAS was understandably smaller than previous years. The hall full of classic cars, vying for awards from the judges was gone, and so was the hall of diecast enthusiasts selling their wares near the exit. What makes it understandable is the plain and simple fact that we’re still in the midst of a global pandemic.

Amidst all the launches from all the different brands, the standout features for this particular outlet were the Peugeot 2008, Subaru BRZ and Forester, Geely Coolray SE, GAC Empow and GS8, and the Chery Tiggo8 Pro PHEV.

Peugeot’s 2008 was squarely aimed at the Generation Z buyer – young professionals with lots of spending power, looking for a trendy item to buy for themselves as their first car.

But the 2008 wouldn’t be on that list if not for the Geely Coolray, which really cemented the market trend in the Philippines for the Subcompact Crossover SUV. Launched in 2019, Geely has decided to give the popular Crossover SUV a facelift and some new toys with the Coolray SE. A funky new paint scheme and some black accents make it fighting fresh for the next crop of contenders.

Although only in the Philippines as display units, the GAC Empow and the GS8 point towards an exciting future for the brand as they intend to launch these new units to an expecting crowd. The Civic fighting Empow drew a lot of crowds due to its beautiful styling elements as well as the matte olive green paint job that really gave it that modified from the factory vibe, and the GS8, GAC’s flagship SUV had some interesting design cues as well. Though locked, they definitely got people excited over what will come next for the Chinese brand.

Moving on to the Subaru stand, we see the perfect Boxer two car garage in the newly launched Subaru BRZ and Forester. As the only sports car launched at MIAS, the BRZ drew crowds that fought to get photos with its sleek coupe body, and while waiting looked over the spaciousness of the Forester. Heads were turned when the covers were pulled off, and I’m certain reservations were made as well.

Last but not least, the Chery Tiggo8 Pro PHEV is potentially one of the most important new cars to be launched in the Philippines this year. As a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle, the Tiggo8 Pro PHEV is an acceptable compromise between an electric commuter car, gasoline powered mile muncher, and 7 seater family hauler, all rolled into one package. That package may carry with it a steep price tag, but no one ever said progress was going to be easy, or cheap.

All in all, the 2022 Manila International Auto Show was a resounding success in bringing the latest in the industry to event goers. It gave us a chance to get our hands on the launched vehicles, as well as have casual yet informative conversations with executives and salespeople alike.

While we hope the format stays the same for next year’s event, one can’t help but wonder if perhaps next year, we get to see beyond what will be available in 2023. Maybe we get to see what the companies have in store for the next generation of car buyers, who get their licenses in 2025 and beyond. Maybe even see some concept cars that show us what the car of the future will run on, or will look like. But that’s what makes the future so exciting. It’s the eagerness to discover what lies ahead, as well as the journey it takes to get there.

So goodbye, MIAS 2022, and cheers, to the future of Filipino motoring.