Industry News
Sleep Your Way South
BJ Mercantile, Inc., the official distributor of THACO commercial vehicles in the Philippines, has turned over the country’s first two THACO sleeper buses to Cagsawa Travel and Tours, Inc. This development starts a new chapter for long-distance bus travel between Metro Manila and the Bicol Region THACO Sleeper Bus Launch (Final).
The units handed over are THACO Mobihome sleeper buses, a new generation of premium coaches designed and built by THACO AUTO at its manufacturing facility in Vietnam. The buses are positioned to offer a more comfortable and private travel experience for passengers on extended provincial routes.
Leilani Lim Tan, vice president of BJ Mercantile, said the partnership aims to raise passenger comfort while addressing the practical needs of transport operators. She noted that sleeper bus technology is becoming a key direction for modern intercity travel.
The THACO Mobihome features a modern exterior design highlighted by a front grille with beveled patterns inspired by a “T” motif, paired with LED projector headlights. The design creates a cohesive look from front to rear while giving the bus a distinct road presence.
The bus is fitted with 20 individual sleeper cabins. Cagsawa Travel and Tours provided specific design inputs for the interiors to enhance passenger comfort and privacy. Each cabin uses premium materials and includes an LCD entertainment screen, personal reading light, and Type-A and Type-C charging ports. The bus also comes with an onboard toilet, while UV ceiling lights and ambient lighting add to the overall cabin atmosphere.
William Rogando, director and operations manager of Cagsawa Travel and Tours, said the acquisition supports the company’s goal to lead through quality service and operational excellence. He added that their visit to THACO’s manufacturing facility reinforced confidence in the product and its long-term value for the industry.
BJ Mercantile continues to expand its commercial vehicle lineup in partnership with THACO AUTO, supported by after-sales service, parts availability, and technical support nationwide. The company has grown from its beginnings in 1974 into a diversified group with operations across multiple industries.
The THACO sleeper buses will soon be deployed on Cagsawa Travel and Tours routes and will provide passengers a new option for overnight and long-distance provincial travel.
Toyota has raised its full-year profit forecast after a weak yen, cost reductions and stronger hybrid sales helped offset the impact of the Middle East conflict and tougher competition in China.
Japan’s biggest automaker now expects net income of ¥3.25 trillion for the financial year ending 31 March 2027, up from its May estimate of ¥3 trillion. The new forecast is still below the ¥3.8 trillion it earned in the previous year.
Toyota also lifted its operating-income outlook to ¥3.4 trillion from ¥3 trillion, while it expects revenue to reach ¥54 trillion, a 6.5-percent increase from the prior year.
The revision came shortly after Japan and the United States jointly intervened in currency markets to support the yen. The Japanese currency had dropped to its weakest level against the dollar since 1986 before recovering last week.
A weaker yen raises Japan’s import bill, particularly for oil and raw materials, but it also increases the value of overseas earnings when converted back into yen. It can also make Japanese-made vehicles more competitively priced abroad.
For Toyota, the benefits helped cushion disruptions caused by the Middle East war. The conflict has raised material costs and made shipping to the region more difficult.
Toyota executive Takanori Azuma said its usual route through the Strait of Hormuz had become unavailable, forcing shipments to take the much longer route around South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope. The detour doubled logistics lead times.
The carmaker is now developing other routes, including transferring vehicles before the Strait of Hormuz and moving them by land into Middle Eastern markets.
Toyota reported first-quarter net income of ¥1.5 trillion, up 75.6 percent from a year earlier and above market expectations. Revenue rose 10.4 percent to ¥13.5 trillion.
Operating income, however, declined 8.8 percent to ¥1.1 trillion. It was Toyota’s fifth consecutive quarterly decline in operating income.
Hybrid sales, currency effects and cost-cutting measures helped soften the pressure from the Middle East situation, the company said. Yet its global vehicle sales still fell 2.8 percent in the first half of calendar 2026, with sales in China dropping 17.1 percent.
The China decline comes as local manufacturers continue to gain ground. BYD recently entered Japan’s kei-car market, putting the Chinese electric-vehicle giant in more direct competition with Toyota, Nissan and Suzuki.
Toyota also announced a ¥1-trillion share buyback programme. Its shares nevertheless fell nearly two percent in Tokyo trading on Tuesday.
HANOI, Vietnam — VinSpace has signed a contract with SpaceX to send its first satellites into orbit in 2027, an agreement that supports the Vietnamese company’s plan to develop capabilities across the space industry.
The satellites will travel aboard one of SpaceX’s Transporter rideshare missions, which carry payloads from several customers on the same launch. VinSpace did not disclose the number of satellites covered by the contract or the financial terms of the agreement.
VinSpace will handle the research, development and manufacturing of the satellites, along with their operation once they reach orbit. The missions will test technologies developed by the company and help build its experience in satellite engineering.
The agreement follows VinSpace’s announcement in April that it planned to develop and launch its first satellites in 2027. The company views the initial missions as a foundation for future commercial services based on satellite technology and data.
VinSpace CEO Thu Vu said reliable access to orbit was necessary to turn satellite research into working missions.
“This contract with SpaceX is an important milestone in VinSpace’s long-term strategy to help build Vietnam’s space ecosystem and strengthen the country’s position within the global space economy,” Vu said.
The company expects the satellite program to support technology testing in orbit, the training of Vietnamese aerospace professionals and cooperation with international partners. It also plans to use the missions to prepare technologies for commercial applications in Vietnam, Southeast Asia and other markets.
VinSpace aims to operate across the space industry instead of concentrating on a single part of the business. Its plans cover satellite design and manufacturing, assembly, integration and testing, launch management, satellite operations and services based on space data.
The company is also developing capabilities in ground infrastructure, satellite connectivity and geospatial intelligence. Potential applications include infrastructure monitoring, energy, environmental management, logistics and smart-city services.
VinSpace is part of the Vingroup ecosystem, which also includes Vietnamese electric vehicle manufacturer VinFast. The SpaceX agreement gives the aerospace company a launch provider as it works toward its first missions and builds a broader commercial space business.
Philippine motorcycle sales reached 939,528 units in the first half of 2026 as a strong opening quarter offset weaker demand from April to June.
Data from the Motorcycle Development Program Participants Association showed sales rose 3.58 percent from 907,054 units during the same period last year.
The industry sold 496,868 motorcycles in the first quarter, up 11.6 percent year on year. Second-quarter volume fell 4.2 percent to 442,660 units from 462,007 units, although the earlier gains kept the six-month total in positive territory.
Automatic motorcycles remained the largest segment with 655,004 units sold. Their ease of use, fuel efficiency and suitability for daily commuting continued to attract Filipino riders.
Business motorcycles ranked second with 148,989 units. Demand from delivery services, small businesses and other income-generating activities helped sustain the segment.
Mopeds recorded 107,632 units, followed by street motorcycles with 24,346 units. Big-bike sales reached 2,994 units, while other categories accounted for 563 units.
MDPPA president Erwin D. Estrada said the first-half performance showed the resilience of the local motorcycle industry despite tougher market conditions and a high comparison base from 2025.
He added that buyers continue to recognize motorcycles as affordable and dependable transportation for work, business and everyday travel.
Industry analysts expect long-term sales growth to continue as demand for cost-efficient mobility remains strong. MDPPA represents Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha in the Philippines.
