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VinFast offers free charging until 2029 as fuel prices continue to rise

VinFast extends free EV charging in the Philippines until March 31, 2029, as fuel prices rise.

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Photo: Vinfast

Vietnamese electric vehicle manufacturer VinFast said in a statement on March 21 it has extended its free charging program in the Philippines until March 31, 2029, covering charging at V-Green stations for new and existing customers, including individual drivers and those using VinFast vehicles for transportation services.

The extension comes as fuel prices in the country continue to climb. As of March 17, pump prices posted another round of increases, extending a week-long trend, according to industry data.

VinFast’s parent company, Vingroup, has also introduced a limited-time “Trade Gas for Electric” program running from March 11 to March 31, 2026. Customers switching from gasoline vehicles can receive an additional 3 percent discount on VinFast electric cars, on top of existing incentives.

The company provided cost comparisons based on a typical monthly driving distance of 1,200 kilometers.

For the VF 6 Plus, estimated energy use is around 155.5 kWh per month. At a home charging rate of 13.82 pesos per kWh, monthly charging costs would be approximately 2,150 pesos, or close to 77,000 pesos over three years. With free charging, that cost is eliminated.

A similarly-sized gasoline vehicle with fuel consumption of 6.5 liters per 100 km would use about 78 liters of fuel monthly. At a price of 65.25 pesos per liter, monthly fuel costs would be approximately 5,090 pesos.

For the VF 5, estimated monthly energy use is around 137 kWh, costing roughly 1,890 pesos in charging, or about 68,000 pesos over three years. A gasoline alternative in the same segment, with consumption of 6.8 liters per 100 km, would use about 81.6 liters monthly, costing approximately 5,300 pesos per month or about 191,000 pesos over three years.

For the VF 3, monthly energy use is estimated at around 104 kWh, equivalent to about 1,440 pesos, or roughly 52,000 pesos over three years. The most efficient gasoline options in this size range, consuming around 3.95 to 5 liters per 100 km, would use about 60 liters monthly. At 65.25 pesos per liter, that amounts to about 3,900 pesos monthly, or over 140,000 pesos across three years.

Paolo Reyes, a Quezon City-based driver who uses a VF 5 daily, said removing fuel costs has made household budgeting more predictable.

“Once you remove fuel cost from the equation, the rest becomes easier to plan,” Reyes said. “That extra 2,000 to 3,000 pesos a month goes straight to groceries, a new laptop for the kid, or even a small fund for a family trip.”

Industry News/Updates

Ford announces finalists for 25th Henry Ford Awards

Ford names 25th Henry Ford Awards finalists for motoring journalism excellence.

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Photo: Ford Philippies

Ford Philippines has named the finalists for the 25th Henry Ford Awards (HFA), the industry’s only awards program recognizing excellence in motoring journalism, the company statement said on April 16.

The awards, now in its 25th year, features five submission categories divided into Industry Awards and Ford-specific categories.

Industry Category Awards

For Automotive Vehicle Review of the Year (Article), the finalists are Luigi Leonardo of GadgetMatch for his piece on the Kia EV9, Carlo Chungunco of Top Gear Philippines for a story on the Mazda Miata, and Raymond Gregory Tribdino of The Manila Times’ Fast Times for a review of the 2025 Mitsubishi Xpander.

In the Automotive Vehicle Review of the Year (Video) category, finalists include Earl Lee of AutoDeal for the 2025 Nissan Z NISMO, Caco Tirona of AutoDeal for the 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9, and Alexander Zosa of Jaywalkur Motoring for the BYD Seal 5 DMi.

Ford Category Awards

The Ford Launch Story of the Year category features Kristoffer Lim of Megabites, Leandre Grecia of Top Gear Philippines, and MJ Jucutan of GadgetMatch.

For Ford Automotive Video Feature of the Year, the nominees are Jack Gutierrez of AutoDeal, Roy Robles of Zigwheels Philippines, and Caco Tirona of AutoDeal.

In the Ford Automotive Short-Form Video of the Year category, finalists are Roy Robles of Zigwheels Philippines, Charles Banaag of Top Gear Philippines, and Isaac Atienza of Go Flat Out PH.

All entries underwent two rounds of judging by members of the academe and business leaders. Video submissions were evaluated by special judges, including Ogilvy Executive Creative Director Chino Jayme and brand filmmaker Sid Maderazo of Provill Studios and Sidekick Collective.

Winners will be announced on May 5, 2026. The ceremony will also honor the Silver Mile Luminaries, motoring journalists with the most HFA wins over the past 25 years, as well as the recipient of the first-ever Butch Gamboa Lifetime Achievement Award.

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Industry News/Updates

Ford offers cash discounts, low downpayment deals for April

Ford Philippines offers April cash discounts, low downpayments, and 0% interest on select models.

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Ford Territory Hybrid (Photo: Ford Philippines)

Ford Philippines is offering special promotions this April, including cash discounts, low all-in downpayment deals, and interest-free financing across several vehicle models.

The offers cover the Ford Ranger, Everest, Territory Hybrid, Explorer, and Mustang Mach-E, the company announced on April 15.

Territory Hybrid

The Territory Hybrid Titanium X comes with a P50,000 cash discount or a lower all-in downpayment deal of P89,000. The base Territory Trend remains priced at P1,399,000 and is available at a monthly fee of P29,352.

The Territory Hybrid, launched in August 2025, features a self-charging system that recovers battery power through regenerative braking and energy capture from the engine. It does not require charging stations.

Mustang Mach-E

The all-electric Mustang Mach-E is offered with a P500,000 cash discount, bringing its starting retail price to P2,999,000. Customers can also avail of 0% interest with a 50% downpayment on a 60-month amortization plan.

Ford Everest

The 7-seater Everest Titanium+ 4×2 comes with a P110,000 cash discount or a complimentary 5-Star Care Package, which includes a free 5-year warranty, 5-year scheduled service plan, and 5-year emergency roadside assistance, plus a P70,000 cash discount.

The Everest Trend variant is available at a P79,000 low all-in downpayment or a monthly fee of P39,107. The Everest Sport comes with a P60,000 discount.

Ford Ranger

The Ranger Sport is offered with a P180,000 discount. Customers can also avail of a low all-in downpayment of P59,000 for the 4×2 variant or P69,000 for the 4×4 variant. The entry-level Ranger XLS is available at a P99,000 all-in downpayment or a monthly fee of P28,932.

Ford Explorer

The Explorer 2.3L Limited EcoBoost comes with either a P1,000,000 discount or 0% interest with a 20% downpayment on a 60-month amortization plan.

“We recognize the need to make mobility more accessible especially during these challenging times,” said Byron Daquil, Director of Retail Marketing and Business Growth at Ford Philippines. “With customer-focused promotional offers on the Territory Hybrid, Mustang Mach-E and across our vehicle lineup, we hope to provide options to enable customers to keep moving through their day-to-day with ease and efficiency.”

For more details, visit Ford Philippines website at https://www.ford.com.ph/

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Industry News/Updates

Vespa launches new 180cc Sprint, Primavera models in PH

Vespa launches two new 180cc scooters at Makina Moto 2026.

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Photo: Piaggio Philippines Corporation

Vespa distributor Piaggio Philippines Corporation has introduced two new 180cc scooter models at the Makina Moto 2026 event, expanding its lineup in the local market.

The new offerings, the Vespa Sprint and Vespa Primavera, were unveiled on April 14 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. Both models come in three variants each, with prices ranging from P218,000 to P288,000.

The Primavera 180cc is priced at P218,000 for the Standard variant, P228,000 for the Primavera S, and P268,000 for the Primavera Tech. The scooter features newly designed rims and a redesigned speedometer, according to the distributor.

The Sprint 180cc lineup starts at P238,000 for the Standard variant, followed by the Sprint S at P248,000, and the Sprint Tech at P288,000. The Sprint is distinguished by sharper body lines, with the Tech variant equipped with a high-definition digital dashboard.

Both models are powered by an enhanced 180cc engine and come standard with a keyless start system and ABS brakes.

The Italian brand has been manufacturing scooters since 1946. The new Sprint and Primavera models are now available at authorized Vespa dealerships nationwide.

The Makina Moto 2026 event runs until April 17 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

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