Cars
Green Light for the Future
Green GSM, the Philippines’ first all-electric taxi brand, officially hit the road with a high-profile launch at Quezon Memorial Circle, Quezon City.
GSM (Green and Smart Mobility) formally introduced its flagship e-taxi service to the country on June 10, marking the company’s fourth international venture after Vietnam, Laos, and Indonesia.
Attended by key figures from government and diplomatic circles—including DTI Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque, DOTr Secretary Vivencio Dizon, and Vietnam’s Ambassador Lai Thai Binh—the event gathered nearly 100 strategic partners from sectors like transport, energy, banking, and technology.
Green GSM begins operations in 10 cities across Metro Manila using a dedicated fleet of VinFast Nerio Green electric vehicles. With their striking cyan color—a blend of green for sustainability and blue for innovation—the EV taxis promise a smoother, quieter ride with zero emissions.
“Our goal is not just to enter a new market, but to lead the shift from traditional mobility to an electric future,” said Nguyễn Văn Thanh, Global CEO of GSM.
The service emphasizes passenger safety and service quality through its “Secure to Safe” (S2S) platform, which includes real-time monitoring, AI-powered operations, and a strong focus on vulnerable passengers like women, children, and the elderly.
Drivers are professionally trained, and fares are transparent, displayed both on the Green GSM app and in-car meters. The app is now available on the App Store and Google Play. Commuters can also call the hotline (02-7777-8080), hail units on the street, or ride from public pick-up points.
To promote the launch, Green GSM is offering 500 Green Points (worth PHP 500) for first-time users, applicable to their first seven rides. The promo runs until August 31, 2025.
Founded in 2023 in Vietnam, GSM aims to transform mobility standards across Southeast Asia with the mantra: Greener. Smarter. More Civilized.
Pasay City is bringing back free shuttle rides, and this time, the service gets a tech boost. Starting August 12, 2025, residents can hop on Toyota Lite Ace community shuttles for another year at no cost, with routes and seats managed through Toyota’s mobility apps. The move aims to cut commute stress, make trips more predictable, and move Pasay closer to its “smart city” goals.
Instead of the usual “ride wherever there’s a vacant seat,” passengers can plan trips and reserve seats via the myTOYOTA Shuttle PH app, while city administrators get real-time vehicle data and driver behavior insights through Toyota Fleet Connected Service. It’s a small fleet of five Toyota Lite Ace units donated in March 2025, but a big step toward cleaner, safer, and more efficient city mobility. Think barangay-to-City Hall errands, school runs, or quick hospital trips made smoother with digital tools.
Free rides cushion households from rising transportation costs, and app-based booking reduces “come what may” commutes. If the system works in Pasay, other local governments could copy the model, especially for first- and last-mile routes where jeepneys or buses aren’t practical. It’s also a test of public trust: will commuters actually use the app? Can the city keep the shuttles on schedule and the data secure?
The program builds on the Toyota Community Shuttle pilot that ran from December 2023 to January 2025, which proved that connected, shared transport can improve access without needing major new infrastructure. The relaunch, led by Pasay City officials with Toyota executives, signals tighter public–private teamwork to modernize mobility at the city level.
Headed to the mall this weekend? You might bump into Ford’s newest electrified duo—one for practical daily drives, the other a head‑turning EV pony. Which one fits your Manila traffic life better?
Ford Philippines is taking the New Territory Hybrid and the all‑electric Mustang Mach‑E on a nationwide show-and-tell through October, bringing them to high‑footfall malls and select dealerships so shoppers can check the tech and the design up close.
Where to see them first:
- Territory Hybrid (Aug 15–17): Over 20 mall spots from SM Southmall, V Mall Greenhills, SM Bicutan, SM Marikina, Robinsons Place Manila to SM City Batangas, SM Sta. Rosa, SM San Pablo, SM Taytay, SM Legazpi, plus North Luzon stops like SM Cabanatuan, SM Rosales, Harbor Point Subic, SM Tarlac, SM Tuguegarao, SM Ilocos Norte, SM Baguio, then SM Seaside Cebu, Island City Mall Bohol, and Mindanao with SM City Davao, Robinsons Place Pagadian. If you reserve at these sites, you get a free 3‑year Scheduled Service Plan (SSP).
- Mustang Mach‑E Roadshow (Dealerships):
Ford Alabang (Aug 13–17), Global City (Aug 20–25), Balintawak (Aug 27–Sep 1), EDSA (Sep 3–8), Libis (Sep 3–8), Marikina (Sep 10–14), Cebu (Sep 30–Oct 5). Retail starts September at those same dealerships.
Hybrid practicality, EV excitement. One aims for lower fuel use in stop‑and‑go EDSA crawls; the other shows what a Filipino EV garage could look like—if your condo or barangay has charging sorted.
Perks that soften ownership costs. The free 3‑year SSP for Territory Hybrid reservations at mall stops is a real saver, especially with rising maintenance costs. Fair deal or marketing fluff? You tell us.
Access, not just hype. This isn’t a one‑city launch. The tour reaches Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao so more families can test cabin space, infotainment, and driver aids without flying to Manila.
Fresh from the public reveal, Ford wants more Filipinos to experience the brand’s electrified push—“from mall displays to dealerships,” says MD Pedro Simoes. Translation: they’re betting you’ll choose with your eyes and a quick sit‑in. Agree? Or do you still want hard data like charging costs vs. gas?
- Would you daily a hybrid for school runs and groceries, or go full‑EV for the torque and quiet rides?
- Which stop is nearest you—Southmall, Greenhills, Cebu, Davao? Planning to drop by?
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.
