Industry News/Updates
Government opens CAVITEX C5 Link Segment 3B, travel time cut from 1.5 hours to 15 minutes
New CAVITEX link cuts Parañaque to Taguig travel from 1.5 hours to 15 minutes.
The CAVITEX C5 Link Segment 3B is now open, reducing travel time between Parañaque City and Taguig City from 1.5 hours to approximately 15 minutes, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced on Monday, March 6.
Marcos led the opening of the two-kilometer stretch, which completes all segments of the CAVITEX C5 Link. The tollway is expected to accommodate around 36,000 vehicles daily.
Marcos inspected the segment with Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon and Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Giovanni Lopez.
Marcos said the opening of Segment 3B is intended to help mitigate the impact of rising oil prices linked to ongoing tensions in the Gulf Region, noting that the project supports the government’s Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) under Executive Order No. 110.
“Kagaya ng ating mga laging iniisip ngayon dahil nga sa kaguluhan sa Middle East, ay napakalaking savings ito sa gasolina, sa krudo, sa fuel. At hindi maliit na bagay ang babawasan ang biyahe mo mula sa isang oras at kalahati hanggang 15 minutes. Malaking savings ‘yan (Given what we are constantly thinking about right now because of the unrest in the Middle East, this represents very significant savings in gasoline, in crude, in fuel. And it is no small thing to reduce your travel time from an hour and a half to 15 minutes. That’s big savings.”),” Marcos said.
“Ito ay kasama sa ating utos na nanggaling sa UPLIFT na ating ginagawa na buksan ang lahat ng mga daan upang maging mas maginhawa ang pagbiyahe ng ating mga traveling public (This is part of the directive we received from UPLIFT, which we are implementing to open all roads so that travel for our commuting public becomes more convenient),” he added.
Dizon said additional mobility projects are expected in the coming weeks, including the schedule opening of the Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX) connecting Tarlac City to Cabanatuan City next Tuesday, April 11.
The toll fee for Segment 3B will be waived from March 30 to April 30, 2026, including the Holy Week, when many Filipinos are traveling.
“Para naman ay mapagbigyan ang ating kababayan na dumadaan dito, lalong-lalo na ngayon, Holy Week na ngayon, at maraming bumabiyahe. Kaya ito ay patuloy naming ginagawa at bubuksan natin (This is also to accommodate our fellow Filipinos who pass through here, especially now that it’s Holy Week and many people are traveling. That’s why we continue to do this, and we will open it.),” the President said.
The government statement said the new segment is expected to improve access for motorists from Cavite and other southern areas to metropolitan regions, potentially supporting economic activity in Southern Metro Manila and Cavite by providing better connections to industrial, commercial, and residential zones.
Industry News/Updates
CAMPI launches 10th Philippine International Motor Show
CAMPI launches 10th PIMS scheduled on June 4-7, 2026, at the World Trade Center in Manila.
(Photo) L-R: Victor Vinarao of Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp.; Atty. Rhys Alexei Murillo of Nissan Philippines, Inc.; Jing Atienza of the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI); Robert Carlos of Isuzu Philippines Corp.; and Atty. Louie Soriano of Honda Cars Philippines, Inc.
The Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) has officially launched the 10th Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS), scheduled for June 4-7, 2026, at the World Trade Center in Metro Manila.
The biennial event carries the theme “Forward in Every Drive.” During the launch on May 7, CAMPI President Jose Maria Atienza said the 10th edition underscores the industry’s aim to foster a competitive auto industry while addressing evolving mobility demands, including challenges related to the ongoing fuel crisis.
Seventeen automotive brands will participate: BAIC, Chery, Foton, Geely, Honda, Isuzu, Jetour, Kia, MG, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Omoda and Jaecoo, Subaru, Suzuki, Tesla, Toyota, and VinFast.
The show will feature over 150 vehicle models, including approximately 75 electrified models, or about 50 percent of the lineup. Activities include product launches, previews, driving experiences, and displays on energy efficiency and mobility technologies.
First staged in 2007, PIMS is a biennial event organized by CAMPI.
Industry News/Updates
Mazda CX-8: Quiet moment on the road matters for moms juggling it all
Mazda posted a video feautring Bianca King as CX-8 offers moms space, comfort, and ease.
Mazda Philippines, on May 6, posted a video of actress Bianca King as part of its Mother’s Day message. The video highlights the idea that for mothers who drive the Mazda CX-8, the vehicle offers space, comfort, and a ride that doesn’t demand constant attention.
The video captures how motherhood is rarely picture-perfect. There are beautiful days, there are overwhelming ones, and there are those moments when you’re folding laundry while helping with homework, planning dinner while stuck in traffic, and struggling to remember the last time you had five minutes to yourself.
In between daily routines, school runs, weekend errands, and the occasional quiet drive alone, finding balance isn’t just nice to have. It matters.
For some mothers, that’s enough. Less noise behind the wheel means more room to be present, not just for the kids in the backseat, but for themselves.
“To every mom showing up with love every single day, Happy Mother’s Day,” Mazda Philippines wrote.
No grand claims. Just an acknowledgment that the daily drive, much like motherhood itself, goes a little better when it’s not a struggle.
Industry News/Updates
VinFast launches VF MPV 7 electric vehicle in PH
VinFast launches the VF MPV 7 electric vehicle in the Philippines.
VinFast has officially launched the VF MPV 7 electric vehicle in the Philippines, marking the third international market to receive the model, the company announced on May 4.
The VF MPV 7 is priced at P1,518,000 for the battery-included version and P1,239,000 under the battery subscription model. The monthly subscription fee is P2,700 for distances up to 2,000 kilometers and P4,150 for distances exceeding 2,000 kilometers.
Starting May 5, customers can place orders through VinFast dealerships nationwide. Until May 31, the first 1,000 customers will receive one year of free battery subscription for usage up to 2,000 kilometers per month. Those who purchase the vehicle with the battery included will get a direct discount of P27,200.
The VF MPV 7 is a seven-seater electric MPV targeting families. According to VinFast, the MPV segment accounts for nearly 20 percent of total automotive sales in the Philippines.
The vehicle measures 4,740 mm in length, 1,872 mm in width, and 1,734 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,840 mm. Cargo capacity reaches up to 1,240 liters.
The electric motor delivers 150 kW of power and 280 Nm of torque, paired with a 60.13 kWh battery. VinFast claims a driving range of up to 450 kilometers on a full charge under NEDC standards. Fast-charging from 10 to 70 percent takes approximately 30 minutes.
Owners receive free charging at V-Green stations in the Philippines through March 2029, along with a seven-year or 160,000-kilometer vehicle warranty and a 10-year or 200,000-kilometer battery warranty.
VinFast Southeast Asia CEO Antonio Zara said the VF MPV 7 is intended as an upgrade for Filipino families.
CAMPI launches 10th Philippine International Motor Show
Mazda CX-8: Quiet moment on the road matters for moms juggling it all
VinFast launches VF MPV 7 electric vehicle in PH
DENZA launches B5, B8 plug-in hybrid SUVs
Hyundai updates software on 123 Palisade Hybrid units in PH
VinFast forum: PH at ‘turning point’ as fuel prices drive BEV adoption
Ford brings mobile showroom to Antique as part of Visayas roadshow
VinFast EV rental model offers ride-hailing drivers alternative to rising fuel costs
Toyota adds two electrified crossovers to local lineup
Vinfast hands VF6 keys to motoring media for full-day test drive
