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League of Grit

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Shell Mekaniko League 2025 champions stand on the podium with a giant check and trophy, joined by Shell executives and organizers on stage.

Shell Pilipinas closed its 2025 Mekaniko League with a full-house finals at Le Pavillon in Pasay City on September 30, capping a nationwide search for top car and motorcycle mechanics. The program gathered more than 2,000 participants from 26 provinces across two tracks: Shell Helix Auto Mekaniko Champions for car mechanics and Shell Advance Masters for motorcycle mechanics.

From March to September, Shell held 20 regional events for motorcycle mechanics and six for car mechanics. Each stop mixed competition with training through Shell-led sessions and TESDA-certified modules that prepared participants for NC I and NC II assessments. Semi-finalists went through written exams, parts identification, and live repair tests before advancing to the Grand Finale.

Quezon City’s Mark Anthony Calimag won the national title for the Helix Auto Mekaniko Champions, with R-Jay Alvarez in second and Manny Basong in third. On the motorcycle side, Caloocan’s Charlie Sandoval took the Advance Masters crown, followed by Norman Cabal and Joefel Foronda, with Joevanne Sayat and Allen Kenneth Rañon rounding out the Top 5.

Winners received 200,000 pesos each and an all-expenses-paid MotoGP trip to Malaysia. The Top 5 car mechanics and Top 3 motorcycle mechanics also earned slots on the MotoGP trip to learn from world-level racing teams.

Shell executives said the league is as much about livelihood as it is about trophies. The company partnered with TESDA to standardize skills training and raise shop-level service quality across communities. “The Mekaniko League is one of Shell Pilipinas’ key programs that highlights the skills and dedication of Filipino mechanics,” said Jackie Famorca, Vice President and General Manager for Lubricants at Shell Pilipinas Corporation. TESDA assessor Brian Landicho added that programs like this help mechanics adapt to the fast-changing auto industry.

Launched in 2024 with a handful of runs, the Mekaniko League has grown into a national platform that recognizes shop professionals who keep vehicles roadworthy and families safe. Shell says it will continue the league while strengthening skills-building efforts through its Shell Helix and Shell Advance communities.

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Cars

Twin Crowns for Ford in PH

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Ford Philippines secured two major segment wins in 2025, with the Ford Everest leading the 4×4 midsize SUV class and the Ford Mustang topping the sports car category, based on data from the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines.

Ford Everest

The Everest Titanium+ 4×4 claimed the top spot in the 4×4 midsize SUV segment, taking a 40 percent market share in 2025.

Ford positions the Everest as a blend of durability and comfort. The Titanium+ 4×4 variant comes with a terrain management system that offers six drive modes: Normal, Eco, Tow Haul, Slippery, Mud/Ruts, and Sand. Drivers can switch modes through a Drive Mode Selector, while an electronic shifter supports optimized performance across varying road conditions.

Safety and driver-assist technologies are standard across the lineup. These include seven airbags, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go and Lane Centering, Lane Keeping System with Road Edge Detection, Forward Collision Warning, Evasive Steer Assist, and Reverse Brake Assist.

Ford Philippines said customer feedback played a key role in shaping the latest Everest, which targets buyers who need a vehicle that can handle rough terrain without sacrificing daily comfort.

Ford Mustang

In the sports car segment, the Mustang held the number one position with a 32 percent market share in 2025.

Ford Philippines introduced the seventh-generation Mustang in 2024. The model is available locally in two variants: the 5.0L GT Premium Fastback and the 2.3L EcoBoost Premium Fastback.

Both variants now come with the MagneRide damping system. The setup adjusts suspension performance to balance ride comfort and handling. The Mustang also features Brembo brakes, a quad chrome tip exhaust with active valve functionality, and 19-inch aluminum wheels with distinct designs per variant.

Inside, the sports coupe gets RECARO leather-trimmed sport seats and soft-touch materials. The GT Premium Fastback runs on a 5.0-liter Ti-VCT V8 engine paired with a 10-speed SelectShift automatic transmission. It produces 493 PS and 567 Nm of torque. The EcoBoost Premium Fastback uses a 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine, also mated to a 10-speed SelectShift automatic, delivering 319 PS and 475 Nm of torque.

Pedro Simoes, managing director of Ford Philippines, said the performance of both nameplates reflects strong customer demand in their respective segments.

With the Everest leading among 4×4 midsize SUVs and the Mustang maintaining its hold on the sports car market, Ford Philippines closes 2025 with two category leaders in its lineup.

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Cars

Hill Climb for Toyota

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Toyota Motor Philippines has started work on a new dealership in Antipolo City, adding another service hub for customers east of Metro Manila. The project is being developed with Toyota Taytay, Rizal Inc. and is set to strengthen Toyota’s footprint in one of the country’s fastest growing cities.

The upcoming Toyota Antipolo, Rizal facility will rise along L. Sumulong Memorial Circle in Barangay San Jose. Designed as a full-service dealership, it aims to give local motorists easier access to sales and aftersales support without the long drive into Metro Manila.

Once completed, the dealership will cover a total floor area of 12,160 square meters across three floors and a mezzanine. It will feature a modern showroom that can display up to seven vehicles and a service area with 37 bays. Customers can expect express maintenance, periodic servicing, body and paint work, and general repairs under one roof.

Toyota Motor Philippines president Masando Hashimoto said the Antipolo site has long been part of the company’s hopes for network expansion. He shared that the new dealership will help Toyota serve customers in Rizal with greater convenience as the area continues to grow.

Toyota Antipolo, Rizal president Zellyn Lim Diaz highlighted the local impact of the project. She said the dealership will create jobs during construction and provide long-term employment once operations begin, while also supporting skills development and stable livelihoods for families in the area.

Antipolo City has seen steady growth driven by retail, real estate, tourism, and small businesses. Its close link to Metro Manila through major roads like Marcos Highway and Ortigas Avenue Extension has made mobility support an essential part of daily life. Toyota’s latest expansion places its services closer to motorists who rely on these routes every day.

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EV

Plugged In and Rolling

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ACMobility is heading into 2026 to make electric vehicle charging easier, faster, and more reliable for everyday Filipino driving. After a year of steady expansion, Ayala’s mobility arm says its focus remains simple. Build charging solutions that work in real life, not just on paper.

Over the past year, the company doubled down on its “Charge Anywhere, Drive Anywhere” direction. The idea covers every scenario an EV driver might face, from charging safely at home, plugging in at public hubs, calling for mobile charging when there is no station nearby, or managing everything through one app.

At home, ACMobility continues to roll out charger installations through Greenstrum. On the road, its growing network of EV Charging Hubs now stretches across key routes nationwide. For drivers who need power wherever they are, Power-on-Wheels brings charging directly to them. The entire system is tied together by Evro, the group’s e-mobility app partner.

Mobile charging goes city-wide

One of the biggest developments in 2025 was the expansion of Power-on-Wheels, ACMobility’s mobile EV charging service. What started in parts of Makati, Mandaluyong, and Taguig now covers the entire National Capital Region, including Pateros.

The mobile units are equipped with 120kW DC fast chargers that support CCS2 and GB/T plugs, allowing both battery electric vehicles and select plug-in hybrids to charge quickly. In some cases, drivers can gain up to 30 percent charge in as little as 10 minutes.

Power-on-Wheels also added Emergency Charging Assistance. This service supports EVs with very low battery levels by providing on-site charging of up to 20 percent, along with 12-volt battery boosting when needed. Requests can be made through a dedicated hotline, with trained technicians deployed across Metro Manila.

Smarter charging through the app

Charging access also became easier digitally. In 2025, Evro recorded strong growth, adding around 33,000 new registrations and reaching more than 18,000 monthly active users.

The app now features a Station Finder that maps more than 340 Department of Energy registered charging locations nationwide. A MyCharge Planner helps drivers estimate how much charging they need based on their vehicle and target battery level. Payment options have also expanded, with GCash integration and in-app charge vouchers giving users more flexibility.

ACMobility says platform reliability and clearer station visibility will remain priorities as the charging network continues to grow in 2026.

Building the Philippine EV Spine

Beyond the cities, ACMobility continues to push forward with its Philippine EV Spine project. The initiative aims to place charging infrastructure along major routes across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, making long-distance EV travel more practical.

By working with fuel stations, destinations, and transport hubs, the company is gradually filling in charging gaps outside Metro Manila. According to ACMobility, this nationwide approach is key to making EV ownership more realistic for more Filipinos.

“For electric mobility to work at scale, charging has to be reliable wherever drivers go,” said Carla Buencamino, Head of Mobility Infrastructure at ACMobility. She said the company’s 2026 plans continue to focus on reliability, emergency support, and everyday usability for EV drivers across the country.

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