Industry News
Driving Growth Together
Manila — Global mobility platform inDrive is calling on local fleet operators in the Philippines to partner with ride-hailing companies to boost transport services and give more drivers access to vehicles.
Speaking at the Philippine Commercial Vehicle Show 2025, inDrive Regional Director Mark Tolley said fleet collaborations can help meet strong commuter demand, improve daily travel, and create more livelihood opportunities.
“In many of our APAC and Latin American markets, we see steady demand for reliable transport. Many drivers want to help, but they don’t have cars,” Tolley said. “By teaming up with local fleets, we can provide vehicles, open up job opportunities, and improve commuter services.”
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has approved over 70,000 vehicle slots for 19 ride-hailing firms. Instead of adding more new cars, inDrive’s strategy is to work with fleets to use underutilized vehicles, reducing the need for more private car ownership or unregulated operators.
inDrive has similar partnerships in Mexico, Nepal, and Peru, each tailored to local needs. In the Philippines, it is encouraging fleet operators to design schemes that benefit both drivers and commuters while supporting sustainable growth.
Tolley stressed that ideal fleet partners should keep rental rates affordable so drivers can earn enough without overworking. Fleets should also explore funding options that don’t pass high interest rates onto drivers.
Fleet partnerships, according to Tolley, also benefit operators. Through inDrive, they can access its tech platform, link with financial partners, and enjoy a 10% commission rate, allowing them to keep more revenue. Bonuses are also available for meeting performance targets and using company branding on vehicles.
For ride-hailing platforms, fleets help bring in more drivers, assist them in daily operations, and improve performance. Branded fleet vehicles also help promote services.
Beyond fleet deals, inDrive is testing a peer-to-peer model in some countries to make pricing fairer and more transparent. Early results show higher driver earnings, fewer cancellations, and better passenger satisfaction.
“Our aim is simple — we want more drivers on the road to meet rising demand, but we want that growth to be sustainable,” Tolley said.
inDrive is inviting local fleets to partner up, give more Filipino drivers the chance to earn, and serve more passengers with reliable transport.
The Philippine motorcycle market continues to rev up, recording another solid performance in the second quarter of 2025. Sales hit 910,923 units from April to June, up 4.8% from the 876,074 units in the same period last year, according to the Motorcycle Development Program Participants Association, Inc. (MDPPA).
Industry insiders point to the same winning formula: motorcycles remain affordable, fuel-efficient, and perfectly suited for weaving through Metro Manila’s notorious traffic.
These factors, paired with expanding delivery services and the need for personal mobility, have kept demand high.
Breaking down the numbers, the Automatic/Scooter segment is still king of the road, leading sales among all categories—moped, street, business, big bikes, and niche models. This dominance isn’t expected to change anytime soon, especially with financing options making ownership more accessible.
MDPPA, which counts Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha, and TVS as members, expects the upward trend to hold through the rest of 2025. The group projects a 5% growth rate for the full year, supported by the country’s steady economic recovery.
The association is also pushing for safer roads through programs like Tropang MAALAM—a campaign that promotes rider education and awareness. For MDPPA, growth in sales should go hand-in-hand with responsible riding.
With more Filipinos embracing motorcycles for daily travel—whether for commuting, work, or leisure—the industry’s engine shows no signs of slowing down.
MANILA | After seven years, Ayala Corporation’s AC Industrials has officially ended its distributorship of Maxus vehicles in the Philippines, closing a chapter that started with the brand’s local launch in 2019. The decision, made jointly with China’s SAIC Motor Corporation Limited, was described as a “strategic step” for both companies to refocus on their core strengths amid shifting market dynamics.
Maxus entered the Philippine market under Ayala with vans like the G10 and V80, later adding the G50 MPV, D60 and D90 SUVs, and the T60 pickup. Some models have since evolved under SAIC’s other brand, MG, such as the G50 morphing into the G50 Plus and the upcoming re-entry of the D90. The T90 pickup is also set for a local debut as the TRQ.
For existing Maxus owners, it’s not the end of the road. Aftersales support will continue, with service bookings available via maxus.ph, and contact channels kept open for customer concerns.
Dana Uson, Head of Strategy at AC Industrials Mobility Group, said the company is proud to have contributed to Maxus’ local growth and reaffirmed its commitment to “innovative and sustainable mobility solutions” in the country. Meanwhile, SAIC’s Frank Wu thanked AC Industrials for laying a “strong foundation” for the brand in the Philippines.
Industry watchers weren’t entirely surprised. SAIC took direct control of MG’s Philippine operations in 2023, hinting that Maxus could eventually follow a similar path. For now, AC Industrials will focus on its other motoring brands, BYD, Kia, and Volkswagen, while SAIC continues to grow MG and possibly, one day, revive Maxus locally.
The announcement is rare in the auto industry, where most distributor shake-ups happen quietly, noticed only through shuttered dealerships and disappearing ads. This time, both parties went public—perhaps signaling a more open and competitive landscape ahead.
Lamborghini is in a legal showdown with one of its U.S. dealers, accusing it of selling high-end supercars to unauthorized middlemen — and in some cases, to individuals linked to “drug dealers and pimps.”
At the center of the dispute is Gold Coast Exotic Imports in Chicago, Illinois. The Italian carmaker claims the dealership breached its contract by selling at least 32 vehicles in 2023 to brokers instead of directly to retail buyers or other authorized dealers.
Court filings allege that some buyers had no intention of keeping the cars, flipping them instead for hefty profits. In one example, Lamborghini says a car went to someone previously convicted of fraud tied to laundering money through luxury car sales to criminal networks.
The brand also accuses Gold Coast of demanding off-the-books kickbacks worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in exchange for access to limited-edition models. Since 2019, Lamborghini claims to have paid the dealership over $4 million in incentive bonuses.
Gold Coast denies the allegations, countering that Lamborghini has withheld funds for showroom upgrades, failed to cover marketing costs, and is trying to push out its president, 81-year-old Joseph Perillo Sr. The dealership has taken its grievances to the Illinois Motor Vehicle Review Board.
Despite the heated exchanges, both sides told U.S. District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer they are in talks for an out-of-court settlement. If that fails, a trial could take place in December 2026.
This dispute follows another high-profile scandal involving Ferrari’s German dealer Mertel Italo Cars, accused of fraud and swiftly cut off by the brand. For Italy’s supercar makers, the twin controversies highlight the ongoing challenge of keeping their exclusive cars out of speculative or criminal hands — and protecting their carefully crafted image.
