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Automotive

Daily intelligence on the Automotive beat

Monday, October 19, 2026

Issue #117

Mitsubishi Weighs RACE as Pasalo Complaint Spreads

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines says its next investment depends on where government incentives land, while a fish vendor's pasalo complaint against a Quezon City dealer drew the widest audience of any Philippine car item. Nissan set a November 6 launch for two electrified models and the LTFRB moved to regularize 638 ride-hailing drivers.

By the MMI Automotive Desk

Mitsubishi Weighs RACE as Pasalo Complaint Spreads

A Quezon City fish vendor who says he returned a Mitsubishi L300 van to the Mitsubishi Quezon City branch after his income fell, only to find the unit passed to another buyer under a "pasalo" arrangement while he is still being pursued for the payments, drew 50,895 views, 456 likes and 45 comments on a video posted October 16 — the highest engagement of any Philippine vehicle item in this stretch. The same transfer practice surfaced again two days later on Reddit, where a user asked how to legally hand a car with almost 40 months of payments left to a sibling before migrating abroad, worried that authorities would go after the registered owner if the car were in an accident. Neither post drew a public response from Mitsubishi's Philippine arm.

On the corporate side, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. (MMPC) president Ritsu Imaeda told reporters the company is keeping a close watch on government automotive policy before deciding whether to expand local production of internal combustion engine vehicles or shift further toward electrified models, and that it remains open to joining the government's Revitalizing the Automotive Industry for Competitiveness Enhancement (RACE) Program. The Philippine Star's business pages carried the same remarks, adding that MMPC's planned P7-billion investment in hybrid electric vehicle production at its Santa Rosa, Laguna plant may grow beyond that figure. Nissan Philippines, meanwhile, opened reservations on October 17 for the Navara Pro plug-in hybrid pickup and the Primera electric vehicle, with an official Philippine launch set for November 6.

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More Automotive

LTFRB Subpoenas Five E-Commerce Platforms Over Delivery Fleets

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board ordered Lazada, Shopee, Zalora, TikTok Shop and SM Retail to list their accredited truck-for-hire partners within three working days, with fines of up to ₱200,000 per unit for colorum vehicles. The same day brought a VinFast VF 8 pre-order opening, a DTI complaint against VinFast, and a fatal Cebu truck crash.

Toyota Tamaraw MPUV Leads Auto News as Road Deaths Mount

Toyota previewed its Tamaraw modern public utility vehicle ahead of an October 22 launch, while Jetour opened a Cabanatuan dealership and GAC priced a hybrid against Toyota. Road crashes killed riders and passengers across several provinces, and the LTO suspended drivers' licenses over viral violations.

LTFRB Cracks Down on Colorum Delivery Vans

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board ordered nationwide enforcement against private vehicles doing delivery work for online sellers without permits, with fines of up to ₱200,000 per unit. The same day, the Land Transportation Office suspended the license of a viral stunt rider in Davao City and summoned the driver in a Lipa City SUV chase.

VinFast VF 8 Pre-Orders Open as Toyota Warns on Supply

VinFast opened Philippine reservations for its VF 8 electric SUV and offered dealers up to US$60,000 per new electric motorcycle showroom, while Toyota warned that Thailand's floods could disrupt Philippine vehicle shipments. The Land Transportation Office issued show-cause orders over a viral stunt and a motoring event, and the LTFRB rejected two motorcycle-taxi accreditation bids.