The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
By Kris M. Crismundo / Philippines News Agency
Honda Cars Philippines Inc. (HCPI) has launched in the country its first seven-seater multipurpose utility vehicle (MUV): the all-new Honda Mobilio.
With the introduction of the Mobilio in the Philippines, the Japanese carmaker aims to tap a wider market.
“With a clear grasp of the local culture, we believe that the all-new Mobilio fits [what the Filipino family needs in and expects from] a vehicle…. [It is] Honda’s first MUV specially developed for the Asian market to answer the need for an affordable family vehicle,” HCPI President and General Manager Toshio Kuwahara said.
“Without straying from what the Honda brand has been known for, the Mobilio will offer… sporty exterior styling, along with [the] space, comfort and utility found in an MUV loved by customers in the region,” he added.
The Honda Mobilio is available in three variants with the following suggested retail prices: P807,000 for 1.5 five-speed manual transmission (E MT); P877,000 for 1.5 V continuously variable transmission (CVT); P967,000 for 1.5 RS Navi CVT or its sporty grades; and P987,000 for 1.5 RS Navi CVT in white orchid pearl color.
The introduction of Honda’s latest automobile came after the carmaker reported that its sales increased by 19 percent to 3,958 units in the first quarter of 2015, compared with the 3,318 units in the same period last year.
Currently, Honda has 6.29 percent of the total automotive market, making it the fifth-largest selling car brand in the country in the January-to-March period.