Industry News

Despite the heat, hundreds of people showed up over the four days of the 2024 Auto Focus Multi-Brand Summer Test Drive Festival held at the SM Mall of Asia open grounds from May 9 to 12.

A total of 4,519 individuals test-drove sedans, crossover/SUVs, MPVs, pickups and vans made available by the 17 automakers and distributors who joined the festival.

Of the total, 3,603 individuals chose to use either of the two courses designed to simulate road conditions and showcase the handling capabilities of the vehicles being tested.

Around 916 chose to test the cars in actual traffic and road conditions on the streets of the SM Mall of Asia complex.

Test drives were offered from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

BYD full electric vehicles were among crowd favorites during the festival.

Changan made its full local lineup available during the festival.

Making its first appearance at the annual Auto Focus Multi-Brand Summer Test Drive Festival is DFSK Philippines, showcasing two variants of its E5, a plug-in hybrid seven-seater crossover/MPV, and the Candy, a full electric runabout.

The Candy was a very popular draw for test drives.

Ford Philippines, a fixture of the annual summer test drive festival, returned showcasing its lineup of popular SUVs and pickups, as well as the newly launched Mustang.

GAC also brought its full lineup to the festival for test drive while also giving a preview of the Emkoo hybrid which may soon be made available in the country.

Geely Philippines also brought out all their models to the festival.

GWM came to festival with a lineup with all manner of powertrains - ICEs, Hybrids, and Full Electrics - as well as utility and lifestyle vehicles.

At the festival, GWM touted its 7-year bumper to bumper warranty for all its models.

Like all participating brands at the Festival, Honda Cars Philippines offered some incentives to those who test drove their models and signed up for reservations.

Among the busiest booths with the most sought-after test drives during the festival was Hyundai, the South Korean brand that is a perennial participant in the summer event.

Isuzu showcased the 2024 Mu-X at the summer test drive festival as well as the current model D-max. Nonetheless, Isuzu Philippines president Tetsuya Fujita revealed plans to roll out sooner than later the 2025 Dmax.

Jetour may be the surprise of the summer test drive festival with its model lineup seeing a lot of laps around test courses.

Highlighting the Kia booth at the festival was the full electric EV6 which was sought after by those wanting to experience battery powered cars.

Kia promises to roll out more exciting models before the year is out.

MG Philippines has joined the bandwagon of auto distributors offering full electric vehicles as well a performance vehicles. These were made available for test drives during the festival.

Bannered by the new Triton pickup, the Mitsubishi lineup of bestsellers proved to be among the top-of-mind choices for test drives during the festival.

The festival also was the best time to make reservations for Mitsubishi vehicles.

Nisssan pulled out all stops to attract visitors to its booth at the festival.

The turnout at the Suzuki booth over the four days of the test drive festival has made the brand optimistic about expanding its presence in the local automotive market.

Toyota vehicles drew among the most number of requests for test drives over the four days of the festival.

Toyota also had the most comprehensive lineup of vehicles, including hybrid variants of its popular crossovers/SUVs.

Overall the 2024 Auto Focus Summer Test Drive Festival was successful in attaining the objective of bringing together those seeking to acquire new vehicles and automotive companies offering great new products in one venue.