Mr. Normann Chiu, President of VPX, expressed his excitement during the ceremony, stating, “Today is not just about breaking ground; it’s about laying a foundation for reliability and quality in automotive service for the region. We are thrilled to bring VPX’s trusted service closer to our customers in Mindanao.”

The new VPX facility aims to address the growing demand for high-quality automotive services in the area. With a strategic location that is easily accessible for residents of Cagayan de Oro and nearby cities, VPX is poised to become a key player in the local automotive industry.

Mr. Mark Saberola, General Manager of VPX, highlighted the company’s commitment to customer satisfaction, saying, “Our goal at VPX Cagayan de Oro is to provide top-notch service that meets the standards of major automotive brands. We want our customers to feel confident and valued each time they visit us.”

The establishment of VPX in Cagayan de Oro is also a boon for local employment. The new service center is looking to hire professionals across various roles, including Service Sales Advisor, Workshop Leadman, Parts & Admin Officer, Technicians, and Mechanics. This development is not only a testament to VPX’s investment in the community but also an opportunity for local talent to shine in a promising industry.

Mr. Macmod Muti, President of Markson Petrochem Inc., the franchisee of VPX Cagayan de Oro City, added, “We are committed to making VPX a beacon of excellence in automotive services in Northern Mindanao. This groundbreaking is the first step towards a future where quality car care is readily available to everyone in the region.”

The VPX Cagayan de Oro site is scheduled to open its doors in third quarter of 2024, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and staffed by certified professionals ready to tackle various automotive needs.

This groundbreaking event is not just a celebration of a new business but a commitment to quality, accessibility, and community service. VPX Cagayan de Oro City is set to reinforce automotive care in Northern Mindanao, ensuring every vehicle owner receives the best possible service right in their backyard.

Stay tuned for more updates as VPX Cagayan de Oro gears up to serve the bustling community of Northern Mindanao, driving forward with dedication and excellence in every vehicle they service.

The post Groundbreaking Ceremony Marks New Beginnings for VPX Cagayan de Oro City appeared first on Village Connection PH.

 Expertise and Experience Rooted in History

While ValuePlus Auto Service has its central operations based in Quezon City, the Las Piñas branch has been serving the community since 2017. The service center is managed by professionals with over 80 years of combined industry experience, ensuring a deep understanding of different car makes and models through a versatile multi-brand talent pool. 

 Unwavering Commitment to Transparency and Honesty

Customer trust is paramount at ValuePlus. To ensure the utmost transparency, the shop leverages a specialized app to keep customers updated at every step of the repair or maintenance process. From the initial cost estimate to the final invoice, you’re kept in the loop, eliminating any surprises or hidden fees. The result is an atmosphere of trust that is hard to find in this industry.

 Customer-Centric Services Designed to Delight

Building on the JD Power customer service index insights, ValuePlus understands that what customers yearn for is control, transparency, and quick, efficient service. The shop not only offers a variety of repair and maintenance options but also ensures you’re continuously updated about the status of your vehicle, all while delivering speedy service without compromising on quality.

 Scaled but Capable Facilities

While the Las Piñas branch had to scale down its operations due to the pandemic, it hasn’t compromised on the essential, state-of-the-art tools required for top-notch service. Despite its compact size, the facility includes a wheel alignment system among other crucial tools, ensuring it can handle a broad spectrum of maintenance and repair tasks effectively.

 Competitive Pricing and Value-Added Services

In a cost-sensitive market like Las Piñas, ValuePlus manages to offer competitive pricing along with a variety of value-added services. Customers have the option to choose between original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts and high-quality aftermarket alternatives. The shop also emphasizes the continuous training of its staff, ensuring that they stay updated with the latest advancements in the automotive world.

 More than a Business—A Community

Above all, ValuePlus Auto Service Las Piñas focuses on building relationships. From the first phone call to the moment you drive off the shop’s lot, you’re treated as part of their extended family. The commitment to customer education and long-term relationship building sets ValuePlus apart as a leader in the industry.

In summary, despite its scaled-down size and the challenges brought on by the pandemic, ValuePlus Auto Service Las Piñas remains a standout option for vehicle owners in the city. Offering expertise, transparency, efficiency, and value for money, it’s no wonder this shop has earned its reputation as one of the best auto repair service centers in Las Piñas.

The post Why ValuePlus Auto Service Las Piñas is One of the Best Auto Repair Shops in the South appeared first on Village Connection PH.

With this new structure, we will further strengthen cooperation with Fuji Speedway, Fuji Speedway Hotel, Fuji Motorsports Museum, and Toyota Fudosan Co., Ltd., which is in charge of area development, to continue making Fuji a place where people who enjoy or work in motorsports, adults and children alike will want to visit.

Click here (https://global.toyota/en/newsroom/corporate/37094898.html) for an overview of the Fuji Motorsports Forest Project and a message from Akio Toyoda (April 6, 2022).

The post Toyota to Establish a New Company to Promote the Fuji Motorsports Forest Project appeared first on Village Connection PH.

Realize you’re not alone

Not only are there many other people in the world who feel the same as you, but there are millions of drivers who once had a driving phobia which they’ve overcome. It’s not impossible and once you conquer it you will certainly be one of the most careful and rule-abiding drivers out there. Try to find people in your friends’ group or online that have suffered from the same phobia and talk to them about how they’ve overcome it and most importantly how they feel now once they are driving again.

Spend time in a car

The first step to overcoming the fear of driving is being comfortable with being in a car. Drive around with friends but don’t distract yourself from the fact that you are in a car, but rather focus on the road similarly to how you would if you were driving. Spending time with people while they are driving might actually make you feel a little bit jealous and wake up the will to drive that’s somewhere inside of you.

Get lessons

Of course, the best way to overcome a driving phobia – is to do it. Get behind the wheel and hit the… course. You’re not going to drive on the roads if you’re scared, but getting additional driving lessons where you drive in a completely safe environment with an instructor by your side will help you get more comfortable. Look at EzLicence driving lessons and consider getting a few classes, even if you already have a license, just to get back in the groove. It’s common for people who have licenses but haven’t driven in a long time to feel nervous and not want to drive, so lessons are a great way to get over that.

Get to the bottom of the issue

Your phobia stems from something: an experience, an imagined situation or a story you’ve heard. You might not even realize what is causing your phobia, and the best way to get to the bottom of it is to talk to a professional. There’s a lot of stigma about getting psychotherapy, but it is the best way to find out which issue is causing the phobia and how to get over it.

Practice relaxation techniques

If you have a driving phobia, you may you experience some anxiety in other situations as well, so it’s good for your overall wellbeing to start learning some relaxation techniques. The first and basic one is deep breathing and focusing on your breath while you do so. This will help clear your mind. You can try other meditative techniques like clenching your muscles and then relaxing them or going for a very fast walk. No matter what works for you, have a collection of relaxing techniques, because if you get behind the wheel feeling on edge, you can pose a threat to yourself and others on the road.

Driving has become such an important, basic skill in our lives that a phobia like this one is worth overcoming for the freedom and convenience that driving gives us.

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Clean

It’s only a napkin. It’s just a gum wrapper. As time rolls on, small trash compiles in a car and soon you have a truly messy, even revolting interior of a vehicle that practically needs to be your home for a few days. Do not even consider going on a road trip before cleaning out all the trash, washing the seat covers and – do not forget this – car mats. Rinse everything out and leave all the car doors open for at least few hours in order to get all the stale odor out of it.

Check

Roughly a week before the trip, march straight to your car mechanic and let them check every moving part beneath the car hood. Tire integrity needs to be checked and all fluids need to be replaced. Some of these items on the checklist (like car fluid replacement) you can do by yourself and don’t forget to bring an extra pack of fluids for the trip just in case…

Get the car radio

Since the emergence of smartphones, car radios have become more and more obsolete, right? Wrong! Car radios are the intrinsic part of the road-trip experience, especially vintage models; though you should not limit yourself to a particular type. The choice of your car-radio brand will depend on the type of sound you prefer. For example, if you want the sound that punches through the roof as you rush down the empty section of the highway, look into the finest Pioneer car audio from Strathfield car radios for the most blood pumping audio experience.

Cash and card

Over the last decade or so, people have almost completely transitioned from cash to cards, and while you’ll want to have your trusty plastic in your pocket while you cover the distance, you should also keep some liquid cash in your wallet for tolls and ‘unexpected’ expenditures. For example, you might want to purchase a pack of beers in a cash-only rest stop for you and a group of friends you’ve made along the way.

Pack light

This may just be one of the most important road trip tips simply because people have a natural tendency to over-pack. Packing light will make more room in the car for your elbows and your knees, not to mention the sharp increase in comfort factor for the companions in the back seat. In addition, your car will remain more durable and well-functioning if you avoid overburdening it with useless stuff that you don’t even need for this trip.

Research

You need to know what awaits you on the road ahead, at least loosely. Do not do detailed research of your destinations beforehand – you’ll want to keep a few surprises in store for yourself and your companions.  However, some broad strokes – like the distance between the starting point and the finish line, a few crucial turns and the most effective route – need to be planned out for financial reasons. The fuel prices can be steep and you’ll want to stick to a reasonable schedule anyways.

Since we live in the day and age when practically every corner of the globe is accessible for a tourist from any part of the world, many people are opting for faraway trips in the realms which previously appeared untenable. Of course, you cannot embark on a road trip to Bali if you live in Stockholm or Spokane, but it seems that tourists still opt to cover the distance via car as long as the trip is reasonable (in other words, it doesn’t take longer than two or three days to cover the distance). This means that the number of cars on the road and the number of trips have actually increased – while the trips themselves have become somewhat shorter. This bodes well for the future of road trips and the preservation of their appeal.

The post The Ultimate Road Trip Tips appeared first on Village Connection PH.

Isuzu likewise increased its market share in that category compared to 2017 sales figures, when it had a 53.7% share of the market.

Isuzu Philippines Corporation, thus, continues its market dominance in the light-duty truck category for 20 consecutive years, dating back to 1999.

The Isuzu brand also topped the overall Category 3, 4 (medium duty and buses) and 5 (heavy duty trucks) segments in the TMA-CAMPI yearend 2018 sales report, extending its dominant streak to 19 consecutive years.

Isuzu Philippines Corporation President Hajime Koso attributed the brand’s continued success to Isuzu’s global reputation as a world-class truckmaker, the adaptability, and versatility of its trucks, and the full aftersales service of an extensive nationwide dealership network. This comprehensive suite of products and services embodies IPC’s commitment as a “professional partner” to its customers.

“For decades now, Isuzu has been known globally for its durable and dependable trucks that can withstand any challenges in transport operations. And with our collaboration with local bodybuilders, our trucks have also been creatively engineered and designed to be suitable for whatever purposes our customers demand. Equally important is the after sales support we provide to our clients along with every purchase. This is the Isuzu Advantage.”

The Isuzu Advantage is the sum of IPC’s different customer support programs bolstering its world-class lineup of vehicles. The first advantage is IPC’s roster of durable, reliable, fuel-efficient vehicles. The second is its nationwide dealer network that now counts over 42 outlets complete with servicing facilities. The third is the reliable and prompt nationwide parts availability. Finally, IPC’s team of expert service technicians and field support personnel are on call to provide technical assistance whenever and wherever needed.

Koso added, “By being professional partners, IPC does not just supply world-class vehicles and treat our customers as mere clients, we treat them as partners. Their growth is essential to IPC’s growth, the development of the Philippine transport sector and of the economy in general. Hence, we provide total support to our partners’ businesses with great products and aftersales support.”

IPC’s aftersales support has been proven to be of world-class standards, with technical teams from IPC consistently winning in global competitions, the most recent just last December 6, when Team Pilipinas was hailed Grand Champions at the Isuzu I-1 Grand Prix World Technical Competition at the Isuzu Monozukuri Service Training Center in Fujisawa, Japan.

To know more about Isuzu’s roster of light, medium, and heavy-duty trucks, log on to www.isuzuphil.com.

The post IPC Stamps Overall Truck Dominance For 19th Consecutive Year appeared first on Village Connection PH.

Autokid Truck Solutions is now in the Philippines to advance the trucking industry with its top-of-the-line productsand truck repair services.

Autokid Premium Trucks cater to those investing in brand new trucks for demanding business needs. There are tractors, transit mixers, cargos, and dump trucks from leading brands like Dongfeng, Foton and Howo.

They also carries Truckstop, its comprehensive truck parts and accessories center. There’s a wide range of brand new and original spare truck parts for many brands including those under their Premium Trucks line and other brands like Isuzu, Mitsubishi and Hino among others.

For a truly holistic offering that is rare in the industry, their houses its own Service Care center. Located at Autokid Sta. Rita in Guiguinto, Bulacan, it offers truck repair services so that businesses can go further.

Indeed, “We Drive Your Business” is Autokid’s mantra. Through this, they allows its partners to concentrate on pushing their businesses to new heights. Thus, it aims to be the number 1 trucking solution for business in the Philippines.

To share its mission to potential business partners and more Filipinos, it taps Manila-based American automotive journalist James Deakin as its Brand Ambassador.

Deakin was officially introduced to members of the media in a contract signing held on January 17 at the Prime Hotel in Quezon City.

Known for his no holds barred commentaries on the state of transportation and traffic in Manila, Deakin is the fitting automotive expert to represent Autokid Truck Solutions.

“We’re honored and thrilled to have James Deakin represent the Autokid brand. We believe that he is the perfect fit for the brand as he is a great authoritative hero in the transportation industry in the Philippines, something that we’ve always strived to be. We strongly believe in empowering our customers with the right truck-related products and services for their business,” says Marvin Tiu Lim, president of Autokid Truck Solutions.

To know more about Autokid Truck Solutions line of products and services, visit https://www.autokid.com.ph. Also read about different trucking solutions at https://www.autokid.com.ph/blog.

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Attending the momentous turnover and launch of the approved route were officials of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), IPC executives, and representatives of GRAB Philippines.

As per GRAB, the company supports the Boracay Transport Master Plan, which aims to streamline and optimize transportation on the island with the introduction of the hop on, hop off jeepney system which will transport passengers along the circumferential road. For the initial phase of the operations, IPC turned over three units of its modernized PUV. It also brought in its prototype PUV to be displayed during the formal turnover.

The Isuzu PUVs were assembled using the Isuzu QKR77 cab and chassis platform and the rear body designed and manufactured by Almazora Motors Corp. The units are Coolaire air-conditioned 23-seater Class 2 type PUVs with a side-facing seat configuration.

The new PUV body is compliant with Philippine National Standards (PNS 2126:2017). The passenger cabin floor-to-ceiling height and gangway width are 1,780 mm and 830 mm, respectively, providing more space for passengers to move easily inside. The passenger door is safely situated on the right-hand side, facing the sidewalk. Other design features of the body include panoramic windows and windshields, full-body insulation with GeneQ shield, automatic door closer, ECE-compliant headlamps, brake system, wipers, windshield washer, and side view mirrors, and provisions for persons with disabilities.

Completing the modernized look and features of the new PUVs are the LCD/LED TV monitors and CCTV system by Mikasa, a fire extinguisher, a Vectras GPS navigation system, dashcam and back-up cameras. All of these have been geared for passengers’ safety, entertainment, and added convenience.

The new PUVs also come with separate warranty coverages for the platform (3 years or 150,000 km, whichever comes first), body and aircon, options not available for old jeepneys.

IPC President Hajime Koso, who attended the turnover ceremony, lauded the groups responsible for the transformation of Boracay Island. “I congratulate all concerned individuals and organizations in the public and private sectors for pooling their efforts to restore Boracay’s place among the world’s most beautiful islands. IPC is most certainly proud to share its expertise and world-class vehicles with the people of the island. Our modernized PUVs are very much aligned with the government’s vision of a modern, safe, efficient, cost-effective and environment-friendly transport system not only for Boracay, but for the entire Philippines.”

The modernization of Boracay’s transport system is part of the government’s ongoing Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) envisioned to replace some 200,000 jeepneys nationwide 15 years and older with new, safe, and environment friendly PUVs.

For more information, log on to www.isuzuphil.com.

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At the opening, executives and officials were in attendance, headed by President and CEO of AC Industrials, Mr. Arthur Tan and President and COO of Isuzu Automotive Dealership, Inc (IADI)  Mr. Emmanuel A. Aligada, who gave their opening and closing remarks, respectively. Also, a special congratulatory message address from the local government by non-other than Vice-Governor Hon. Reynaldo “Junrey” H. San Juan, Jr., M.D. and Taytay Municipality Mayor Joric Gacula.

IPC President Hajime Koso, in his speech, expressed his enthusiasm and great optimism that the branch in Taytay would play a key role in strengthening their brand and world-class service in one of the most economically vibrant provinces and municipalities in the country.

“As we all know, Isuzu trucks have held on to the No. 1 position in total truck sales for 18 consecutive years; and this year, so far, our total truck sales have reached more than 47,000 units. For our light commercial vehicles, we have sold more than 200,000 units. In our objective to make the entire Philippines an Isuzu country, Isuzu Taytay will play a very important role in capturing the market in Rizal Province.”

Taytay Branch, the newest dealership in IADI’s extensive network, is strategically located in the burgeoning “automotive row” along the busy Manila East Road. With a total area of over 3,131 square meters, the dealership can display up to three light commercial vehicles (LCVs) and one commercial vehicle (CV). Its service bays can accommodate up to seven LCVs and one CV at a time.

For more information about it, log on to www.isuzuphil.com.

The post Isuzu Continues To Expand With Isuzu Taytay’s Grand Opening October 29 appeared first on Village Connection PH.

Launched globally in August 2016, the BJ20 was developed from the Beijing Auto Concept 500 demonstrator that was first shown at the Shanghai Auto Show in April 2013. While the BJ20’s renegade look depicts it as an eager and extroverted rover, the compact crossover’s capable undercarriage and sublime powertrain quietly ground it, making it an easy-going, all-season, all-around runabout.

The BJ20 sports a futuristically functional, classically boxy, and ruggedly lived-in look. Up front, the feisty, furrowed brow of its grille-work is flanked by round and staring headlights with blue-toned reflector discs. Those main lights are topped by corner arrays of daylight running lights (DRLs) and underscored by park lights that are bedded deep in a big-boned bumper. The flanks are deeply ridged, depicting straightforward and spartan character lines which are continued and complemented by a straight-running roof line and straight-topped fender wells. Around those wells, polymer over-fender cladding is attached to the body with exposed rivets, those rivets pointedly giving the fenders some tactical-gear character. Those big wheel accents then flow into side-guards and a generous rear bumper, all these touches completing a look of wrap-around impact protection.

The BJ20 is a keen soft-roader. Its 215mm of ground clearance is the highest in its class. Large 225/55 tires on 18″ alloy rims give the BJ20 large pothole-crossing and bump-dampening wheels with 0.685 meter diameters. The BJ20’s front-mounted engine and front-wheel-drive (FWD) layout allows for a fully independent suspension system with McPherson struts up front and multi-links in back. That set-up doesn’t just keep the ride smooth and even but also provides enough articulation to keep both drive wheels in contact with the ground even on moderately uneven surfaces. If the BJ20 is forced to wade through floodwaters, the compact FWD transaxle has less vulnerabilities to water intrusion than does four-wheel-drive (4WD) or rear-wheel-drive (RWD) utility vehicles–the BJ20’s front-wheel drive shafts presenting less points of potential seal failure.

The FWD compact crossover SUV is powered by the well-proven and Euro 5 compliant Mitsubishi 4A91T turbocharged 1.5 liter gasoline engine that comes with that maker’s trademark MIVEC variable-valve-timing (VVT) system. That advanced VVT valvetrain optimizes the engine’s intake, allowing turbo-boost to peak earlier, and longer than on previous generation turbos. The engine delivers peak power of 147hp at 6000rpm derived from a torque curve that hits a top figure of 210Nm with the engine running at 2000 to 4500rpm. That’s 210Nm at 2000rpm and for 2500rpm more after that–torque numbers that look like they should be coming from a turbodiesel rather than a petrol burner, turbocharged or not.

The BJ20’s turbocharged engine was specified as much for efficiency as for performance. Instead of tempting him to floor the gas pedal on spirited romps, the turbocharger gives the driver the reassurance of an ace up his sleeve when dealing with daily crawls. Idling in bumper-to-bumper traffic, it burns fuel like a naturally aspirated 1.5 liter gasoline engine. But when you start moving forward, and only when you actually move forward, the turbocharger brings 50 percent more in virtual displacement, delivering the power of a 2.25 liter engine only when things spool up, and only when you need it.

The BJ20’s designers also finessed the transmission. Rather than a traditional 5- or 6-speed automatic gearbox, the BJ20 mounts a well-proven continuously variable transmission (CVT). The modern and rugged gearbox has a deep starting ratio for heavy-hauling situations, offers Steptronic virtual discrete gears if you’re hankering for these, and has sport mode for when you want those optimal gear ratios continuously computed on the fly to be slightly deeper, multiplying those RPMs into richer torque. But, most importantly, the choice of a CVT gearbox keeps the engine turning without let-up during acceleration, not needing to ease off the gas for up-shifts, and keeping the turbocharger charged with engine revs.

With all this elegant engineering, and even with hard metallurgy that makes it weigh a ton and a half when empty, the BJ20 delivers impressive fuel efficiency numbers and attained an average of 13.15 kilometers per liter on comprehensive driving conditions through inter-city highways and inner-city streets.

List prices for the BJ20 crossover SUV are PhP1.148M for the 1.5L Turbo CVT Standard variant and PhP1.288M for the 1.5L Turbo CVT Luxury edition.

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