The Manila International Auto Show 2011 (MIAS) is the most anticipated car event every year, my life changed when I got introduced to many kinds of car and my interest in car style and brands went more beyond my perspective. I have an interview with JR Ang, the marketing director for the auto show, he told me lots of new things for the show this year and their plans for the coming years, read my interview below
How many years we have this auto show?
JR: – We’ve been doing the auto show for around 7 year already and this is the 1st time we occupied 3 venues - the World Trade Center, the tent and the PTCC.
What is the basic formula that MIAS is always successful every year?
JR: - Every year we put something new or something different, like for this year, we incorporated the new venue that for customized cars, the past year, we tried to segmentize our products, just like now we have different cars like hybrid, electric cars and other new launch cars here at the auto show.
What's the theme of today for MIAS?
JR- Our theme today is about automotive evolution, we're trying to promote hybrid cars, means that cars with half fuel efficiency rating and are eco friendly, we also have electric cars that in the long run might be a trend.
How many electric cars we have at the auto show?
JR: - We have Chery for electric cars, while for hybrid cars, some car companies have 1 to 2 kinds of hybrid cars already here at the auto show.
Are we ready for hybrid cards
JR: - That's nice to have hybrid cars, because before, 5 years ago, we know that they are very expensive, and today they are now affordable because we have many key players who are now making more hybrid cars
For electric cars, do you think that’s the solution for us to save money vs. oil price increase?
JR: - 5 years ago, people laughed at you if you have an electric car, you use electricity to run your own car, but today, we experience oil price increase and traffic in EDSA are getting worst, then you will feel the need to save money and we know that electric cars will be the global trend in the coming years, For this year its for hybrids and the next year it will be for electric cars.
What's new for this year at the MIAS
JR: - We have more hybrid features, and more booths and more cars, and more brands, today we feature this amphibian car of the AFP, its a product of the Philippines, the materials are from abroad and the amphibian car is assembled here in our country.
Do we have local manufacturers ?
JR: - Today we have local car accessories maker, those who create custom cars and we also have international custom car makers and companies here at the auto show.
What’s your dream plan for the auto show ?
JR: - Our dream plan might to have one very big venue to house everything for the auto show. Like we have here for this year, we have 3 venues and we saw that the venue is still small for us to place everything with cars and exhibitors. Our market and visitors are growing every year, we need one big venue for the whole car industry, today we have 35 car brands and growing every year and added with more China car brands to top brands and luxury car brands.
You brought back Russ Swift again for the show, how is he today?
JR: - Russ is still awesome and great, he got new stunts to show today, last year he just let one to two people to ride with him, but today, he let 3-4 people ride with him in a Subaru car while doing the stunts.
What are other main attractions? ,Maliban sa car show babes hahaha.
JR: - (laughing) We have new cars, new car brands and next few years we will have more.
What are the response of the visitors ?
JR: - Their response is much okay today, Because we partnered with BPI Auto Loan and they provide fast auto loan services, and one of our highlights is that for the 1st time, we're going to raffle off a free down payment for your car loan with BPI auto loan, the organizers provided the free down payment as a thank you giveaway for the lucky visitor and car loan applicant.
After the show, What’s the next plan ?
JR: - 1st we need to rest and then we're getting ready for another auto show in the ff. months, We're going to bring the auto show in Cebu at the Cebu International Convention Center, its a follow up for the MIAS and its our 5th time to have it there.
- interview end-
Wow!! did you read all of those updates! we know that the MIAS totally rock the weekend and if you have time today, I suggest you catch up for the last day of MIAS as it will be their last day today April 10, 2011. Its the biggest MIAS show ever at the World Trade Center.
thanks to JR Ang for this short interview and more power to you guys for organizing the best auto show for our country.
