Volkswagen PH Announces Warranty Extension

Volkswagen Philippines, recognizing the restrictions to the motoring public’s movements during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) imposed by the government since mid-March due to the COVID-19 outbreak, has announced that warranties on Volkswagen vehicles expiring within the period of the ECQ would be extended for three more months, or up to August 31, 2020.

This warranty extension provides Volkswagen vehicle owners the opportunity to avail of the after sales privileges covered by their vehicles’ warranties once the dealerships are allowed to reopen and accept customers under the general community quarantine (GCQ) business guidelines.

Under the current ECQ guidelines, non-essential establishments such as automobile dealerships have remained closed, disallowing the customers for their vehicles to be serviced or parts to be replaced.

The three-month warranty extension covers Volkswagen passenger and commercial vehicles sold by authorized dealers, and with warranties expiring between March 1, 2020 and May 31, 2020. Thus, the warranty extension runs from June 1, 2020 to August 31, 2020 only.

The warranty extension offer is on top of the 24/7 Emergency Roadside Assistance (ERA) that provides owners and drivers that added layer of security, safety, and peace of mind. With the assurance of extended warranty coverage even after ECQ is lifted, Volkswagen owners and drivers can move into the “new normal” the safest, most convenient, and most worry-free way.

Volkswagen PH Modifies Dealer Operations as Part of "New Normal"

As the National Capital Region (NCR) and the rest of the country come closer to the day when the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) gets lifted and replaced by the General Community Quarantine (GCQ), Volkswagen Philippines has readied policies and specific practices in its dealership network to keep customers, its employees, and business partners protected.

In his message to dealer owners and executives, Volkswagen Philippines’ President Felipe Estrella urged dealerships that all steps be taken to comply with the safety protocols, guidelines and regulations issued by the government’s Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).

“The current situation has transformed and altered the condition and behavior of the global population, businesses, the market, and the consumers in general. The sense and assurance of safety in gatherings, social contact, crowds and visits to establishments may never be the same in the near future as a result of the pandemic. The same will apply to our businesses, including our most valued dealerships,” Estrella explained.

“It will be very vital that we collectively create an environment wherein our customers’ safety, health and well-being are our utmost priority by the time we are allowed to operate and our customers are allowed to visit our dealerships once again. With this, we recommend certain guidelines, procedures and system in order to ensure our readiness and guarantee the safety of everyone,” Estrella stressed.

In this light, every customer who visits any Volkswagen dealership during the GCQ will have to practice the following in order to comply with the guide that is aimed to eliminate, if not minimize, exposure to the life-threatening virus:

• Wear a face mask throughout the visit.
• Before entry, body temperature will be checked, then alcohol will be sprayed onto hands. Customers who register body temperatures above 37 degrees Celsius will be informed that entry is not allowed and recommend to seek medical consultation.
• Shaking hands will be avoided, and physical distancing (at least one meter apart) will be strictly followed.
• At transaction tables, customers and sales and service personnel will not sit beside one another, but across the table. Thus, only two persons are allowed per table.
• At the showroom and vehicle service bays, customers and attendants shall maintain physical distance, even when inside the vehicle. 
• All facilities where customers may be in—or use—shall be regularly disinfected. Every transaction table will have alcohol or hand sanitizer.
• Touchless and cashless. Use of credit cards or online payments is highly recommended. 
• For those who would like to test drive, all vehicles will be fully sanitized and are guaranteed to be safe.
• For aftersales operations, customers must set service appointments, observe physical distancing, Service Advisors and personnel are required to wear personal protective gears and all tools used and vehicles before and after being serviced must likewise be disinfected.

All Volkswagen dealership personnel are also advised to follow and practice health and safety protocols for business operations as stipulated in the guidelines of the government’s GCQ and Volkswagen Philippines’ Dealership Sales and Aftersales Operations Guide and Recommendations, to make every customer’s visit to any Volkswagen dealership a safe move to the “new normal.”

As of May 4, 2020, Volkswagen Cagayan de Oro in Mindanao region, which is placed under GCQ, is already open from Mondays to Saturdays (9:00 AM to 4:00 PM).

Forget the Golf, This is Volkswagen's Best-Selling Vehicle in the World

If you think the Golf is Volkswagen’s best-selling vehicle, think again. Last year, that record goes to the Tiguan compact SUV.

Sold in 80 percent of all countries on earth, 910,926 units of the Tiguan were made in 2019 making it the best-selling vehicle in the entire Volkswagen brand and Volkswagen group. Not only is it the most successful compact SUV in Europe, but it’s one of the three post popular SUVs in the world. In fact, it’s the top-selling model in four time zones across three continents.

Volkswagen reckons that a Tiguan rolled off the production line every 35 seconds at one of the company’s Tiguan factories last year. This fast rate of production reflects the rapid development of the Tiguan. Introduced to the world for the first time at the Frankfurt Motor Show back in 2007, it’s seen a meteoric rise since then. A significantly updated version of the best-seller was unveiled in 2011. It was a resounding success: the annual Tiguan volume subsequently broke the 500,000 barrier for the first time.

In 2017, Volkswagen introduced a long wheelbase version which gave it another major sales boost. Today, 55 percent of all Tiguan models leaving the production line sport the extended wheelbase.

The Tiguan is currently manufactured at four Volkswagen plants across four time zones, thus ensuring almost round-the-clock production. It’s produced at the main plant in Wolfsburg, Germany; in Kaluga, Russia; in Shanghai, China; and in Puebla, Mexico.

In just two generations, the Tiguan has become one of the most successful SUVs in the world selling 6 million examples. This year, the next chapter will unfold with a major technical and visual update, including a plug-in hybrid version for the very first time.

The True Story Behind the Volkswagen Santana, Lavida, and Lamando

Europeans love hatchbacks like the Golf, which has spent over four decades at the top of the sales charts. Yet, in contrast, the world market is still dominated by compact sedans. In Volkswagen’s case, they account for almost one third of global sales with 1.6 million sold in China alone.

Understanding that Asian tastes differ from European ones, Volkswagen says they can’t simply to do a “cut-and-paste” method—selling just one vehicle to a global audience. Flexing their design and engineering expertise, they’ve taken the liberty to create cars which are tailor-made to Asian tastes and sensibilities.

Through the joint venture with SAIC for example, Volkswagen has managed to localize their products for the Chinese market, similar to how Honda or Toyota has done to gain a strong presence in Southeast Asia. At a glance, here are the three products that helped them grow in the world’s largest single market:

Volkswagen Santana

This successful Chinese model also has nothing in common with the angular original Santana, which was based on the second-generation Passat—a familiar sight in 1980s Germany. While it hasn’t been available in Germany since 1985, its production continued in China. Since 2013, it’s moved to a completely independent design developed specifically for the Chinese market. Powered by a 90-horsepower 1.4-liter MPI engine with the 5-speed manual or a 110-horsepower 1.5-liter BlueMotion with the 6-speed automatic, some 245,000 units were sold in China last year alone.

Volkswagen Lavida

Another model that’s available only in China, it has been specially developed to cater for the preferences and requirements of customers in the Asian market. It packs a turbocharged 1.4-liter 4-cylinder engine with 130 horsepower married to a 6-speed dual clutch automatic for the Philippine market. It may not be a household name locally, but it’s the most successful nameplate of all manufacturers in China, selling 491,000 examples in 2019 alone; putting that into perspective, that’s roughly two percent of the entire Chinese automotive market.

Volkswagen Lamando

Produced by SAIC-Volkswagen as a “four-door coupe,” the Lamando rides on the automaker’s latest MQB platform. Designed to look planted and “flat,” it comes with a 150-horsepower 1.4-liter TSI engine mated to a Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) in the Philippines. Because it shares its platform with the Golf GTI, a sportier GTS version is available in China, packing the same 220-horsepower 2.0-liter TSI engine. More than 101,000 units of the Lamando were delivered in 2019.

The Volkswagen Group produces vehicles for the Chinese market together with two joint ventures in China—one with SAIC, and the other with FAW. Together with their youth-oriented Jetta brand, they delivered 3.16 million vehicles in total last year making them the best-selling brand in the most competitive car market in the world.

It’s easy to complain that the Santana, Lavida, and Lamando nameplates aren’t the Polo, Jetta, and Passat that Europeans get, but the same could be said with the Brio, City, Yaris, and Vios—they too were designed primarily with the Asian market in mind. On the flipside, it’s also the reason why Ford’s “One Ford” strategy didn’t pan out, especially in China.

Volkswagen understands that tastes vary from market to market, region to region, and carmakers must allow some wiggle room for local customization. By blending European and Asian sensibilities, they carry a certain level of design, engineering, and quality. Yet, the vehicles are also truly unique for the Asian market—designed and engineered with this setting in mind.

Volkswagen PH Gives Free 24/7 Emergency Roadside Assistance During Enhanced Community Quarantine

Volkswagen’s 24/7 Emergency Roadside Assistance (ERA) is ready to serve all VW owners during this period of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).

Volkswagen vehicles purchased from December 1, 2015 onwards are automatically enrolled to the 24-hour ERA during the entire period of ECQ, plus an additional 30 days after the national government officially lifts stay-at-home orders. The one-year ERA validity for sold brand-new VW vehicles has been waived during these challenging times—another way of ensuring that all Volkswagen customers are covered.

The 24/7 Emergency Roadside Assistance (ERA) has been an integral aftersales program of Volkswagen Philippines, and is available for every customer once he or she purchases a vehicle. The 24/7 ERA provides Volkswagen owners and drivers an added layer of security, safety, and peace of mind, through the following services that could literally be life-savers for owners and fleet operators:

• Towing—In the event that your Volkswagen vehicle is immobilized or is involved in an accident, the ERA will tow and bring your vehicle to the nearest Volkswagen service facility;
• Removal of vehicle/vehicle recovery—In an accident where the vehicle has been rendered a total wreck, the ERA will arrange to have your Volkswagen vehicle removed with the use of a crane and brought to the nearest Volkswagen service facility;
• Fuel delivery—If your Volkswagen vehicle runs out of fuel, the ERA will arrange delivery of fuel;
• Battery jump start—The ERA’s service provider will be dispatched to jump start the battery. If your vehicle cannot be driven safely, towing services will be provided;
• Lock-out service—If your keys are locked inside your vehicle, ERA’s service provider will attempt to gain entry into your vehicle to retrieve your keys;
• Flat tire service—If your vehicle has a flat tire, ERA’s service provider will remove it and install a spare tire (if available) in a safe environment.

Volkswagen Philippines’ ERA also offers other crucial services in emergency situations:

• Relay of urgent messages—ERA’s service provider will take care of relaying your urgent messages relating to any of the events covered in this program;
• Accident coordination—ERA’s service provider will coordinate with the necessary agencies (Police, TMG and MMDA) to assist you;
• Ambulance coordination—ERA’s service provider will arrange for an ambulance service when necessary, to bring you and/or other passengers to the nearest hospital with appropriate medical capabilities and facilities for the necessary treatment;
• Arrangement for hospital admission—ERA’s service provider will provide necessary admission assistance in a hospital or medical facility, in case you and/or the passengers in your Volkswagen vehicle are injured in the accident.

For the full details, and the area coverage of the Volkswagen 24/7 ERA, log on to Volkswagen Philippines, or call the ERA hotline +63 2 8 459 4772.

Take note that during the period of Enhanced Community Quarantine, the 24/7 ERA service and response time may vary, depending on the coordination among the vehicle owner or driver, the local government unit (LGU), and the ERA service provider available nearby or within the area.

Happy 70th Anniversary, Volkswagen Kombi

Known as the Volkswagen Bulli, Kombi, Type 2, or even simply the “hippy van,” the famous people carrier is celebrating its 70th anniversary. Since it rolled off the Wolfsburg production line, there have been six generations and over 13 million sold.

Revealed as a hand-built panel van prototype in 1949, the T1 eventually launched as a rear-engined panel van, passenger van, and eight-seat bus with the engine and gearbox shared with the Volkswagen Beetle. In 1951, the iconic “Samba” model was revealed with all-round windows and folding sunroof. Production moved from Wolfsburg to Hannover in 1956 while some were even produced in Brazil. By 1967, around 1.9 million people had purchased the T1 with its “splittie” windscreen, making it a global success.

With the T1 forging its name as something of a cultural icon in the “flower power” era, the successor had a lot to live up to. The T2 took the utility of the van on a step further with a new front end and air intake grille. A sliding door was now standard, and the pop-up roof camper version became an instant hit with globetrotters. During its run, 2.14 million vehicles were built at the Hannover plant although production continued until 2013 at the Volkswagen plant in Sao Paulo, breaking the record for longest production period.

In the modern era, Volkswagen also offered the T4 under its then distributor in the 1990s. Known as the Caravelle, this generation marked a technical revolution wherein it switched to a front-engine, front-wheel drive design for the first time. This enabled it to offer more engine choices and even better handling.

Now, coinciding with its anniversary, Volkswagen announced that a zero emissions version of the MPV will be launched very soon. Shown as the ID BUZZ CARGO concept, it’s said to arrive in the next few years and will join alongside the ID.3 electric hatchback and ID.4 SUV. For now, eClassics in cooperation with the German automaker, has come up with an EV conversion for the T1 and T2 generation vans. With this, it swaps its original motor for a near-silent electric motor shared with the ID.3 with double the horsepower and torque than the original. Moreover, plans are underway for VW

For P 3.57M, Volkswagen Lets You Convert the Samba Bus to an EV

Volkswagen is now allowing owners of its classic T1 Samba Bus to convert it to run on a zero emissions elective motor.

Produced in cooperation with eClassics, the conversion will cost an eye-watering 64,900 Euros (~ P 3.574 million), but will swap its 44-horsepower boxer for something with twice the power and torque. In the engine compartment of the “e-Bulli,” as Volkswagen officially calls it, is a near-silent electric motor with 83 horsepower and 212 Nm of torque. With that, top speed is claimed at 130 km/h thanks to a one-speed gearbox.

The components are mostly shared with Volkswagen’s ID.3 all electric car, but the 45-kWh battery is customized especially for the e-Bulli and housed right at the center of the van. It has a range of about 200 kilometers.

With the new powertrain, Volkswagen has also opted to modernize the T1 Samba Bus’s running gear. Apart from a lower center of gravity thanks to the EV powertrain, it also gets new multi-link front and rear axles with adjustable shock absorbers and coil over struts, a rack-and-pinion steering system, and ventilated disc brakes all around.

Aesthetically, the converted T1 Samba Bus remains close to the original, but it does get modern niceties such as LED headlights and a push-button start/stop. Furthermore, the seating configuration’s been altered to accommodate the EV system, while managing to keep its classic vibe.

It also gets modern touches like a Bluetooth-enabled audio system (with subwoofers and all), new instrumentation, and even a smartphone-enabled vehicle app that shows the remaining charge time, current range, and more.

The launch of the e-Bulli marks the second classic Volkswagen to receive the EV treatment. The first was the iconic Beetle which was shown at the Frankfurt Auto Show last year.

Ford, Volkswagen, Peugeot, Ducati Halts European Production

As Europe becomes the newest hotspot for COVID-19, several automakers are now shutting down either due to supply chain constraints or as a precautionary measure to curb the spread of the disease. After Lamborghini and Ferrari (as well as Pirelli and Brembo) announced production suspensions, Volkswagen, Ford, and Ducati are now doing the same.

For Volkswagen, it entails a two-week suspension starting today. Initially, production facilities in Wolfsburg, Emden, Dresden, Osnabrück, Zwickau, Bratislava (Slovakia), Pamplona (Spain), and Palmela (Portugal) are affected, as well as the Components plants at Brunswick, Chemnitz, Hanover, Kassel, Salzgitter and SITECH.

Ford is also doing the same for its facilities across Europe. The Ford vehicle manufacturing sites in Cologne and Saarlouis in Germany, together with the Craiova facility in Romania, will temporarily halt production from Thursday, March 19. Ford’s Valencia assembly and engine facility in Spain already temporarily halted production from Monday, March 16, after three workers were confirmed with coronavirus over the past weekend.

Meanwhile, Groupe PSA has decided to close its vehicle production sites at least until the end of next week. The parent company of Peugeot will shutter its entire European manufacturing footprint with plants in France, Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Slovakia all affected.

Finally, Ducati is also shutting down production until next week at its plant in Borgo Panigale in full compliance to the Italian government’s guidelines against the spread of COVID-19.

Volkswagen Says the Gearbox of the Future Will Have 1 Gear

Volkswagen believes that the future of the gearbox is this: a single-speed gearbox system. As the world enters the era of e-mobility, VW understands that the nature of electric motors fundamentally changes the way power is transmitted to the wheels. For that, they’ve developed the APP310 e-drive unit.

Found in the ID.3, VW’s so-called “next-generation people’s car,” this single-gear transmission is built by Volkswagen Group Components in Kassel, Germany. According to the carmaker it’s versatile in more ways than one. For instance, the ultra-compact gearbox is quite compact, enabling engineers to easily fit it to more vehicle types easily in the near future (it can be fitted into the MQB architecture, for one). More importantly, despite having just one gear, it can cope with all driving situations.

Volkswagen explains that because electric motors have their maximum torque available immediately and remain constant over a wide range of speeds, a single-drive gearbox is enough.

However, because an electric motor needs to spin at very high speeds to achieve its peak power (up to 16,000 rpm in the case of the ID.3), a 10x transmission ratio must be used. However, realizing that using one cog might result in a bulkier design, Volkswagen opted to use a two-stage design with two smaller cogs, instead.

In addition, because an electric drive is very quiet, Volkswagen doesn’t just check its 1-speed gearbox for manufacturing precision, but they also check them for relevant noise values, too!

Volkswagen PH Launches New Brand Campaign with Aim to Better the Filipino Motoring Experience

Volkswagen Philippines enters 2020 with a rejuvenated brand campaign: “We Move You” and kicked it off in spectacular fashion last week at the Activity Center of Trinoma in Quezon City.

The brand’s new ambassador, Gary Valenciano staged a grand performance in front of thousands. His endless energy on stage earned him the nickname, “Mr. Pure Energy,” perfectly personifying Volkswagen Philippines’s “We Move You Campaign.”

The partnership between Volkswagen Philippines and Gary V has been seen to represent the perfect blend of one extraordinary performer and an equally iconic automotive brand. Gary V has built a legendary reputation as a total performer in his 34-year career in the music, film, and television industries. The Volkswagen brand, on the other hand, has created and maintained a global heritage and tradition of manufacturing German-engineered automobiles designed for people and their families for 83 years.

In his opening remarks, Volkswagen Philippines President Felipe Estrella said, “The Santana, Lavida, and Lamando were all designed and built utilizing the 83 years of accumulated automobile knowledge of Volkswagen. This automotive know-how has been combined with more than 30 years of experience in building millions of cars per year in Asia’s largest automotive market. These cars are made in automotive plants that have done the process of building cars millions of times per year for more than 30 years. It is a tried, tested, and proven manufacturing process that has given birth to the Santana, Lavida, and Lamando cars that you see here. These VWs truly and absolutely embody the ‘Heart and Soul’ that Volkswagen is known for and the Philippines is fortunate to be the only other market in Asia with access to these vehicles.”

Without naming any specifics, Volkswagen Philippines aims to capitalize on their rejuvenated brand campaign by introducing new models throughout 2020. These models, will, according to the carmaker, be suited to the needs and aspirations for Filipinos in a bid to better their motoring experience.

Volkswagen Taps Music Icon Gary Valenciano as Brand Ambassador

Volkswagen Philippines announced that Mr. Pure Energy himself, Gary Valenciano is Volkswagen Philippines’s new face. The partnership between two icons of the music and automotive industries is set to be presented to the public during VW Philippines’s, “We Move You” campaign launch featuring a Gary V concert this February 22, 2020 at the Activity Center of the Trinoma in Quezon City.

Gary V has become the most recognizable total performer in Philippine show business. For over 34 years, he has made his indelible mark in the music, recording, film, and television industries. Any production or entertainment number that features Gary V in it is guaranteed to inspire audiences to move, and be moved.

For the 83 years since its establishment, the Volkswagen brand has been synonymous with putting the people first. In the design, creation, engineering and innovation of its vehicles, the driver and passenger have always come top of mind. All Volkswagen models that have rolled out of the assembly for all these generations have come with the guarantee of German engineering and precision, instilling in the millions of its owners and passengers through the years the sense of confidence, assurance, and pride.

The partnership of Volkswagen Philippines and Gary V is seen to represent the perfect collaboration between the two “movers” in their chosen fields. Volkswagen’s timeless designs, German engineering and performance, and security and safety in its vehicles—embodied in its flagship executive sedan the Lamando—jives in perfect rhythm with Gary V’s versatility, his ability to adapt to the times and performance levels, and his quiet sense of elegance and class that appeal to a wide mass of audiences. In Gary V, Volkswagen Philippines has found the embodiment of a timeless, uplifting personality that moves people. In Volkswagen, Gary V has found the vehicle to take his inspiring story to more Filipinos.

Kia Donates 10 K2500 Kargo Units for Taal Relief Efforts

AC Motors together with the Ayala Foundation mobilized in carrying relief goods in a convoy of 30 vehicles from brands Volkswagen, Maxus, KTM, Honda, and Isuzu.

Opting to cancel its annual media thanksgiving event, AC Motors reallocated the funds to procure emergency goods such as blankets, mattresses, sleeping mats, slippers, towels, and other hygiene products.

Part of the delivery convoy were 10 brand-new KIA K2500 Kargo vehicles which were turned over to the Batangas provincial government for deployment to evacuation sites hat need them the most. To date, three of the vehicles have already been dispatched to the municipalities of San Nicolas, San Luis and Mataas Na Kahoy.

AC Motors, a part of the Ayala Group of the Companies remains alert for the imminent eruption of Taal Volcano, and continues to work with relevant LGUs to anticipate and respond to the urgent needs of the displaced communities.

Volkswagen Opens First Mindanao Dealership in Cagayan de Oro

Volkswagen Philippines, in partnership with Greencars Mindanao Corporation, inaugurated the Volkswagen Cagayan de Oro dealership along Pueblo Business Park at the corner of Mastersons Avenue and Paseo de Oro in Upper Carmen.

Volkswagen CDO, Volkswagen Philippines’ 9th since it first officially started operations in 2013, is the initial dealership established in Mindanao, and targets the mobile markets of not just Cagayan de Oro, the country’s 10th most populous city and Region 10’s economic hub, but also the rest of northern Mindanao, including Misamis Occidental, Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte.

Taking note of the region as having the largest economy in Mindanao, Volkswagen Philippines’ President Felipe Estrella said during the program, “Establishing our 9th Volkswagen dealer in the country, at the center of the logistics and business hub of northern Mindanao, was a very easy decision to make. In collaboration with GMC, we are now exactly where we want to be in the region. The residents and enterprises of northern Mindanao will now have more access to the German technology, build quality, and driving experience of Volkswagen automobiles and the accompanying Volkswagen aftersales services and support.”

Greencars Mindanao Corporation Chairman of the Board Antonio De La Fuente revealed in his opening remarks that the occasion marked Volkswagen’s return to Cagayan de Oro after a 40-year absence. “It is with pride that we reintroduce Volkswagen to the community. We are happily re-opening the first Volkswagen dealership in Mindanao. Thank you, Volkswagen Philippines for your support in making this wonderful comeback happen,” he said.

Volkswagen Philippines operates under AC Industrials of Ayala Corporation. Its eight other Volkswagen dealers are: Volkswagen BGC at 938 28th Street City Center, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City; Volkswagen Quezon Avenue at 1229 Quezon Avenue, Quezon City; Volkswagen Pampanga at McArthur Highway, Dolores, City of San Fernando, Pampanga; Volkswagen Alabang at Madrigal Business Park, Alabang-Zapote Road; Volkswagen Santa Rosa along the Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Road, Laguna; Volkswagen Cebu at A. Soriano Avenue, North Reclamation Area, Cebu City; Volkswagen Iloilo at Taft North, Mandurriao, Iloilo City; and, Volkswagen Bacolod along Araneta Street, Singcang, Bacolod City.

Greencars Mindanao Corporation, incorporated in 2005, has been engaged in the sale of new and used vehicles, parts, tires, batteries and accessories, preventive maintenance service and body and paint works, and maintains an extensive industry network in Cagayan de Oro City, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental and Zamboanga City. In May 2019, GMC was appointed as the official Volkswagen dealer for northern Mindanao.

The Volkswagen CDO dealership operates under GMC’s Cartactics Specialists Inc (CSI). “Volkswagen CDO has professionally trained personnel to assist you with the latest tools and diagnostic equipment for your car servicing requirements,” De La Fuente further said.

Estrella added, “The new Volkswagen CDO offers a greater opportunity for our customers to discover or create their own wonderful motoring lifestyle stories in their very own Santana, Santana GTS, Lavida, and Lamando, and each of these stories will then add to the heritage and affinity of the Volkswagen brand with us Filipinos. Each of these models I mentioned carry the renowned Volkswagen DNA of German automotive technology—the same quality we Filipinos have associated with Volkswagen for generations. With Volkswagen CDO back in full swing, our entire product lineup and dealership services are so much more accessible.”

Volkswagen Extends Anniversary Offers This October

What started out last September as Volkswagen Philippines’ 6th year celebration has been extended to October at various SM Malls in Luzon and Visayas, in time for Filipino buyers to get their own early Holiday shopping rolling ahead of the December rush.

Visitors to the mall displays who make their Volkswagen purchases onsite in October will get an outright cash discount for the Lavida (less P 85,000), Santana MPI MT (less P 30,000) and Santana MPI AT S and SE (less P 10,000), to go on top of the free Periodic Maintenance Services (PMS) for the first three years for these models.

There will also be special offers during the road show at these locations:

• October 15 to 21, 2019 - SM City Cebu
• October 20 to 26, 2019 - SM City Pampanga
• October 24 to November 6, 2019 - SM Megamall
• November 7 to 13, 2019 - SM Mall of Asia
• November 11 to 17, 2019 - SM City Bacolod
• November 18 to 24, 2019 - SM Southmall

Volkswagen Philippines’ series of mall tours is part of its push to reach out to more Filipinos, which includes strengthening its nationwide dealership network. Last August 16, it inaugurated its Volkswagen Santa Rosa dealership in Laguna province, its 8th overall and first in the southern Luzon region. Volkswagen Cagayan de Oro will be formally inaugurated this October-its first dealership in Mindanao.

The mall tours and dealership expansion give Filipinos the opportunity to own vehicles that are equipped with German technology at accessible price points.

Volkswagen's New R Badge Looks Cleaner, More Progressive

With Volkswagen tweaking its corporate logo for the future, it makes sense that they’ll be doing it for their Volkswagen R brand as well. Representing the sportiest model in the portfolio, the R gets its first re-do since the German carmaker came out with it in 2002.

The new R logo symbolizes the performance brand’s fresh start. Like its corporate logo, it’s more modern, distinct, and sleek; reduced to its essential components, it can be used for various purposes, remaining particularly suitable for digital media. The new logo was developed at the Volkswagen Design Center.

The redesigned R-Line badge will be seen for the first time in the North American Atlas Cross Sport R-Line. The Atlas is known also as the Teramont, one of the SUVs which Volkswagen Philippines aims to bring into the country by the end of the year.

Volkswagen Philippines Celebrates Its 6th Birthday By Letting You Save

In celebration of Volkswagen’s sixth anniversary in the Philippines, the carmaker is offering great anniversary deals on the Santana and Lavida models from today until the end of the month.

Get the most affordable European car in the market, the Santana 1.4 MPI M/T at an even more irresistible price as its price goes down to just P 656,000 (from P 686,000). And if driving stick isn’t your thing, the rest of the Santana line comes with P 10,000 savings.

Meanwhile, the Lavida 230 TSI DSG SE goes down to just P 1,086,000—a price that puts this compact sedan in the same league as non-German sub-compacts. And take note: the Lavida still comes with a 1.4-liter turbocharged engine making 130 horsepower and 225 Nm of torque—something that can’t be said about any sub-compact out there!

And to make the deal even better, all Santana and Lavida purchases from today until September 30, 2019 come with a free 3-year PMS, too!

This is Volkswagen's New Look, Sound

What you’re looking at is Volkswagen’s new logo. Created for the digital age and designed to be flexible for use in all mediums, it’s the iconic “VW” letters stacked on top of each other, reduced to their essential elements.

Starting at the Frankfurt International Motor Show, this new logo will make its way not just at Volkswagen’s Wolfsburg headquarters, but also throughout Europe and even China by October. By 2020, the rest of the world, including the Philippines will see the new logo as well.

Volkswagen’s re-branding is one of the largest projects of this type in the industry worldwide. All in all, 171 markets in 154 countries are concerned. At the 10,000 facilities of dealers and service partners throughout the world, about 70,000 logos will be replaced.

The two-dimensional design allows for added flexibility and will be instantly recognizable in digital media. In addition, while the logo is typically seen in blue and white, a new blue tone is now being added to allow additional color variants.

As for the vehicles themselves, Volkswagen will use light in its communications. With that, expect models to feature an illuminated logo just as dealerships and brand experience centers will. Furthermore, the visual language will focus on people and will present their vehicles in more realistic situations, hoping customers will identify with them even more (see clip below).


Finally, Volkswagen will have a sound logo for the first time (see clip below). This will hopefully make the German automaker more distinctive in acoustic terms. The brand is also set to now “become female.” After decades of using a male voice to present its vehicles, a woman with a warm, pleasant, and confident voice will speak for VW.

Is the Volkswagen Brasilia Making a Comeback?

Remember the Volkswagen Brasilia? The Beetle/Karmann Ghia-based hatchback that VW launched in the 1970s? Well, it looks like it’ll make a comeback in 2020 based on a teaser sketch released by the German automaker.

It’s worth noting that the Brasilia name isn’t finalized yet (it’s officially called the “New Urban Coupe”, but it could very well be because like its namesake, it will be designed, designed, and manufactured by Volkswagen Brazil completely in-house.

Underpinned by Volkswagen’s MQB architecture, it represents a hefty 1.5 billion Euro investment to update its South American operations to develop new products.

Under Volkswagen’s regionalization strategy, Volkswagen is poised to introduced 20 new models in Brazil. The Brasilia or if you prefer, New Urban Coupe is unique because not only will it be produced, marketed, and sold in Brazil in 2020, it will also make its way to international markets such as Europe by 2021.

Volkswagen Opens in Santa Rosa, Laguna

Volkswagen Philippines, in partnership with the Lica Auto Group, inaugurated the Volkswagen Santa Rosa dealership along the automotive row of the Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Road.

The Volkswagen Santa Rosa dealership, Volkswagen Philippines’ 8th since it first officially started operations in 2013, is the first established in southern Luzon, and targets mainly the upwardly mobile markets of the Calabarzon Area (Region 4A) that encompasses the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon, a booming economic growth corridor populated by the nearly 8 million that fall within the vehicle-buying age demographic of 20 years old and above.

Volkswagen Philippines’ President Felipe Estrella said during the program, “Establishing our 8th Volkswagen dealership in the country, at the economic epicenter of a developing phenomenon that is the Calabarzon area, was a very easy decision to make. And in collaboration with the Lica Auto Group, we are able to establish our presence in a very exciting market. Now, the region’s residents and enterprises will have more access to the German engineering, build quality, and driving experience of Volkswagen automobiles and the accompanying Volkswagen aftersales services and support.”

Lica Auto Group Managing Director Rene Limcaoco expressed in his special message, “Our first Volkswagen dealer takes the Lica Auto Group to a position of dominance in the auto industry in the southern Luzon area. At the same time, Volkswagen Santa Rosa will be more accessible to buyers and owners in the region.”

Volkswagen Philippines operates under AC Motors of Ayala Corporation. Its seven other Volkswagen dealers are: Volkswagen BGC at 938 28th Street City Center, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City; Volkswagen Quezon Avenue at 1229 Quezon Avenue, Quezon City; Volkswagen Pampanga at McArthur Highway, Dolores, City of San Fernando, Pampanga; Volkswagen Alabang at Madrigal Business Park, Alabang-Zapote Road; Volkswagen Cebu at A. Soriano Avenue, North Reclamation Area, Cebu City; Volkswagen Iloilo (Taft North, Mandurriao, Iloilo City), and Volkswagen Bacolod (along Araneta Street, Singcang, Bacolod City).

The Lica Auto Group is a key enterprise of the Manila-based Lica Group that traces its roots in Calabarzon-based real estate, sugar plantations and banking. The Lica Group, which counts over 50 years of operations, is one of the leading diversified business groups in the Philippines. The Lica Auto Group holding company is among the largest automotive sales and businesses in the country. Involved in new and used-car dealerships, rent-a-car, leasing, parts and equipment distribution and service center stores, the Lica Auto Group now counts a total of 46 full dealerships and 19 satellite showrooms.

The Volkswagen Santa Rosa dealership operates under the Lica Auto Group’s Strasbourg Auto Corporation, which will showcase and offer Volkswagen’s full product roster: the Santana, Santana GTS, Lavida, and Lamando.

With Volkswagen made more accessible to one of the Philippines’ most progressive growth areas, the people of Calabarzon will now find that access to an affordable German motoring experience will be much more convenient, giving them even more opportunities to focus on their own life goals.

Ford and Volkswagen Deepen Ties on Pickup Trucks, EVs, and Autonomous Driving Tech

Ford and Volkswagen are deepening their global alliance in order to improve their competitiveness and cost and capital efficiencies. The tie-up includes Ford using Volkswagen’s all-electric MEB platform, Ford taking the lead on developing a new global pickup platform, and both companies investing in autonomous driving technologies.

The two automakers become the largest shareholders in Argo AI, a tech startup that has been developing fully autonomous vehicles for ride-sharing and goods delivery services. Their large geographic footprint enables them to potentially fast track the deployment of self-driving cars in more areas around the world.

In addition, Ford will use Volkswagen’s Modular Electric Toolkit or MEB platform to deliver more zero-emissions vehicles, particularly in Europe. The American carmaker says they plan to deliver more than 600,000 vehicles using the MEB architecture over 6 years, with a second all-new Ford model for European customers currently under discussion.

The announcement also reveals the first details of the next-generation Volkswagen Amarok which will now be based off the Ford Ranger. Ford will spearhead the development of the next-generation pickup truck for role out in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, South America, and the Middle East by 2022. Ford will also take the lead in developing large commercial vehicles, while Volkswagen will do the work on small city vans.

The Ford-Volkswagen alliance will not entail any cross-ownership between the two companies. However, it will be governed by a joint committee composed of senior executives from both companies.