MAHINDRA COMING TO THE PHILIPPINES: ITS THE INVASION FROM THE SUBCONTINENT

After the entry of Tata Motors early this year, it seems that another Indian car manufacturer is coming to the Philippines. According to Top Gear Philippines, Mahindra Motors will be coming here, bringing with it a range of Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs), 4x4s and Pick-Up Trucks.

Mahindra Motors, or Mahindra and Mahindra is famous for being a manufacturer of rugged no-nonsense SUVs, pick-ups and trucks. It was founded in 1945 and one of its early products was a Willy's Jeep with a Peugeot diesel engine in it. One example was featured on Top Gear: The Worst Car in the History of the World. James May in that show described it as a very real contender for the worst car in the history of the world: “. . . [I]s made from hand me down bits . . . It started life as Willys Jeep . . . when the war was over, the Indians decided that they would keep on making it, only with a few alterations. . .” Anyway, May found the car to have a very poor ride, bare interior and sloppy steering, but it's redeeming feature was that it was very cheap. Of course, Mahindra would soon go on to refine its manufacturing processes and improve its products' quality.

Here is a screencap taken from that film.

In other words, Mahindra pretty much started like our car industry: cobbling together owner jeeps and jeepneys with secondhand and refurbished parts sourced from junkyards.

According to the Top Gear report, Mahindra will be testing the waters with the Xylo which is a practical MPV and the Bolero. The Bolero is what I'm really excited about—it looks like a good ol' rough a tumble four wheel drive. The specs confirm it:

Bolero Specifications from Mahindra Bolero

We see that the Bolero is a no nonsense 4x4—Manual transmission, 2.5 Liter Diesel engine, ordinary window winders on some models and look! No power steering on the low end model. Joy of joys. Now, you can truly boast to your friends that you get all the exercise you need from just driving.

Competition

Tata is being imported by the Taj Autogroup and has showrooms in Marikina City, Rizal Province, Davao City and with more showrooms to be opened in Quezon City and in Cagayan de Oro. Mahindra on the other hand, will be imported by an affiliate of the Peugeot distributor (I guess Mahindra and Peugeot go way back), so we should expect to see some competition between the two brands. This is all good because there is nothing better than a bit of healthy competition.

A Tata Manza Spotted on East Avenue, cor. EDSA last July 14, 2014

Picture courtesy of Kristelle Marie Gonzales

The Indians gave us a choice

These cars are competitively priced. They cost less than their Korean and Japanese equivalent, though slightly more than the Chinese and they are of good quality. Plus, they have heritage, one example is the Hindustan Ambassador, they have been making that car for years and it is the darling of Taxicabs—it was inspired by the Morris Oxford, and they have been making it in the same way ever since.

Hindustan Ambassador in a race against other Taxis

Lets look at it from this perspective: Indian cars are like British cars, only tougher. Oh ok, maybe it isn't like that at all, but cars like the Hindustan Ambassador trace their origins to the old Morris. Theirs newer cars like Jaguar and Land Rover, are quite literally British.

On toughness and durability, Indian roads are some of the worst in the world.  I bet their traffic is horrible, the roads are in disrepair.  Their cars have to face extremes of heat and cold, they have to be able to climb steep mountain passes and navigate a maze of urban slums.  An Indian car has to be tough to go through that and simple--you can fix it "with a brick and a piece of string" and a hammer.

I said that Indian cars are competitively priced, so while I can't get the exact price list, the entire suite of Tata cars available for sale in the Philippines is between P550,000 to P750,000. Thats at most P750,000 for the Tata Sumo Gold. Thats a bargain.

Furthermore, China does not really use diesel engines in their cars (trucks like the Foton Blizzard and the JBC are exceptions), but the Indians love diesel, heck they even have a Toyota Vios. Anyway, this is what the Manila Times says about Tata's diesel program:

“TATA Motors is an expert in diesel engines, a result of its trucks predating the brand’s cars by decades. These days, Tata is the planet’s fourth-biggest seller of commercial vehicles. These run on diesel.”

Anyway, Tata is going to export some diesel Manzas here, so that is something to look forward to. Hmmm, I wonder if Tata is going to make buyers sign a contract with buyers prohibiting them from using their cars as Taxis just like Honda, I hope not. They can be the next Isuzu Gemini. Mahindra also has a long tradition of diesel as well, so I'm sure that these two firms, Mahindra and Tata are fairly close to each other in quality

# # #

In other news, the July 22, 2014 issue of Manila Times featured a Filipino-Japan partnership to manufacture electric cars. From what I understand from the report, it seems that this new company is set to assemble/manufacture electric cars here in the Philippines. It also has the option of selling the chassis only. This is a boon for backyard manufacturers—we can have a coachbuilding renaissance using this set-up.

I also hope they go into hybrids, Tesla style, because thats the only way we can popularize eco technology in a roadtrip which involves belting up the Kennon road and the Caticlan Zigzag road as of now.

Update 10/15/14

Mahindra was recently featured in the news.  Apparently, it won a bid to supply the PNP with 560 brand new Patrol Jeeps.  Mahindra won the bid at Php895,000 per unit, or lower than the Php900,000 per unit allocation of the PNP.  PNP is currently conducting tests and if they like it, then they will likely proceed with the purchase:

[Director Francisco Uyami, PNP Directorate for Research and Development,] clarified that the PNP has not yet bought the units and is still subjecting the vehicles to test their functionality and durability.
He said the functionality test of the vehicles began on Monday in Camp Crame and is expected to last for three days including a long distance drive to test the vehicles’ durability.

He added that they were done in dimensional test in Subic, Zambales, which includes speed tests, break tests and ascension tests. Next will be subjecting these to a long distance drive.

The patrol jeeps will be driven for 1,500 km from Manila to Baguio and will be brought to rugged areas in the Kalinga, with a full load of 1,200 kilos representing 13 passengers.

These jeeps are most likely Boleros, like the one I briefly commented on above.  And I expect the Bolero to simply dance through the PNP tests, they having survived worse conditions in India.  Let us just hope that "Daang Matuwid" would carry the day and Mahindra would not need to line the pockets of yet more Directors and Officials, after all, 560 brand new jeeps will go a long way into making the Philippine Police force, a more credible and effective police force.

Again, the Bolero is going to be sold to the Government at P895,000.00.  In other words, that is a great big diesel SUV at the price of a compact sedan.  Not a bad deal.

In other news, it seems that Tata is pushing its Tata Indigo as a livery vehicle.  Again, this is a good move since the areas in which an Indian vehicle is expected to excel is in its durability and reliability

The Tata Indigo Taxi

Source:  Top Gear Philippines

Related Posts:

Tata Motors Coming to the Philippines: But not the Nano :'-(

Hybrid Cars: Will the Philippines have a bite?

PNP Questioned over Award for Patrol Jeeps to Mahindra

THE CARS THAT TIME FORGOT

I saw this picture on 9gag and it struck a chord with me.

It is a comparison of the Lada and the BMW 5 Series through the years and we see that while the BMW has changed and grown ever larger, the Lada has stayed basically the same.

This is my ode to the concept of a "timeless car".  A truly groundbreaking or well-loved car that simply refuses to die or be remodeled--an iconic car.  Some examples I can think of at the top of my head include: the VW Beetle, Ford Model T, Mercedes -Benz G-Wagen, Toyota FJ Landcruiser and the Hindustan Ambassador/Morris Oxford.  Heck, the Mitsubishi L300 probably belongs there too.

These cars seem to take you to a time long past--a nostalgia for a simpler time.  When an economy car meant no-frills and simple, robust construction.  They were light because people never demanded amenities like airbags, computers, satellite navigation.  They can be built and maintained cheaply too.  And one can fit a part from a brand new vehicle on a car built 20 years ago without changing its look.  Can't do that with the BMW now.

Hybrid Cars: Will the Philippines have a bite?

ELON MUSK OF TESLA MOTORS CERTAINLY 

THINKS SO

Updated: 6/13/14

Hybrid cars are getting better and better. They have definitely become more glamorous. Lately, with the introduction of hybrid sportscars and supercars, they have also been pushing the envelope of performance.

I see an opportunity here with hybrid technology. It is a “green technology”, which means that drivers of hybrids will always hold the moral high ground over ordinary internal combustion. Furthermore, as Tesla Motors has proved, it is possible for new players to enter the market.

The hybrid system that interests me the most is the one currently being used by the Tesla. Its formula is a battery powered electric motor for the rear wheels; batteries stored in the center tunnel; and an internal combustion engine which acts as a generator to charge the batteries on the go.^*

^{The Tesla Model S: What arguably started the trend for a 'cool' hybrid}

The McLaren P1:  Pushing the Envelope

Why does this system interest me? Allow me to enumerate:

1st It is versatile; a designer is no longer confined to stick to a certain layout. A manufacturer can easily create a rear-engined, front wheel drive car for example. A transversely mounted front engine with rear-wheel drive is likewise possible. A designer could put the engine on the roof if he wishes. The designer is limited only by his imagination.

This picture is from Tito Eusebio Jr, which was posted on the Top Gear Philippines Facebook Page.  Note how the engine may be located on top of the rear axle.  See, with a hybrid, one may position the components anywhere they like for better ground clearance, aerodynamics or weight distribution. 

2nd It is inherently powerful; an electric motor is said to generate all of its low-end power (torque/hatak) instantly. It is for this reason that this formula is also utilized by diesel electric locomotives.

3^rd It is very efficient; less power is wasted than in a traditional car with a lot of power being sapped through the friction created in the drivetrain. Regenerative braking can also be set up. The motor can also run at a constant speed unaffected by stop and go traffic. i.e. It need not rev so high when setting off, and theoretically, it can just idle at speed. This is because the engine is not connected to the wheels at all.

4th It can be cheap; the Asian Development Bank is trying to get us to use electric tricycles and local authorities are trying to get jeepney operators to go electric. An electric tricycle costs around P200,000.00 so the cost of a brand new electric motor from China (or preferably locally produced) is probably not that much. Furthermore, since the engine is only supposed to act as a generator, the engine need not be that big. One can ostensibly use an old motorbike or kuliglig engine to power the car.

5^th Maintenance should not be problem; an electric motor is built simply with only one moving part. They are very reliable. Jay Leno is said to have a hundred year old electric car that has never needed a service. In any case, if the electric motor is broken, it could be easily removed and overheauled/replaced. Furthermore, since the internal combustion engine is not stressed, it can last longer than one in a normal car.

6^th It is environmentally friendly; Its a hybrid!

To be fair, Autocar Magazine found it better than the REVA Electric Car

Drawbacks:

The manufacture of batteries is still very damaging to the environment. 

Towing capacity may also be less than a normal car, this is an inherent limitation of the electric motor.  

Electric motors may also be very susceptible to damage in case of a flood.

Tesla Motors:

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors recently just "gave away" all of its patents to their hybrid car technology.  He did it because:

According to Musk, Tesla made this gesture to—once again—try to nudge the rest of the automotive market along. Tesla’s Model S has proved that there’s massive interest in a well-made, fun-to-drive electric car. Still, Tesla is barely making a dent in the massive auto market. Musk wants to promote a more dramatic shift toward electric cars, so he will do what he can to accelerate things. “I don’t think people quite appreciate the gravity of what is going on [with regard to global warming] or just how much inertia the climate has,” Musk said during a conference call. “We really need to do something. It would be shortsighted if we try to hold these things close to our vest.”

This highly symbolic gesture is what, in my opinion, is just what the enterprising Filipino Entrepreneur-Inventor needs to get started.  No doubt, as we speak, a Chinese company is out there getting its employees to pore over Tesla's plans so they can copy and improve on it.  This country will only get left behind again. 

Conclusion:

Its high time that the Philipines should have domestic automotive manufacturing business of its own. Perhaps the way to go is with hybrids, especially considering its versatility and advantages. I am quite sure that an enterprising backyard owner jeep builder can come up with something better than the Hammerhead Eagle iThrust that the Top Gear UK Trio came up with. Why not give it a try? How hard can it be?

Related Posts:

http://www.rappler.com/business/features/71224-ph-electric-vehicle

Mahindra Coming to the Philippines:  Its the Invasion from the Subcontinent

*I have to admit that I first got interested in the hybrid car after watching Top Gear UK. In one episode, the presenters built a hybrid car from scratch. They used the chassis from a TVR Chimera, an electric motor from a Milk Delivery Van, a diesel generator and a few 12 volt batteries. Autocar Magazine did a review. Read it here.

Honda Automobiles: The Filipino Cock's Car

I am an avid follower of Top Gear UK, I am likewise a reader of Top Gear Philippines Magazine and follow their Facebook page.

Top Gear UK is a highly opinionated show (owing to the unique way it is funded) and its presenters will not hesitate to say anything about a car and a car maker and the drivers who use these cars.^* Over the years, the show has held that the brands BMW and Audi make great driver's cars, however, the ones who own and drive these cars in the UK are reckless and inconsiderate to other motorists. The show's presenter, Jeremy Clarkson, calls them Cock's cars, and that drivers of these cars are expected to tailgate and over-speed.

In the meantime, Honda in the UK has a reputation for being a sensible and safe brand largely driven by the elderly.

The image is totally different here in the Philippines. The roles for Honda and BMW and Audi are reversed. I have observed that the typical Honda driver is a college student or a yuppie. Many are young women. Many older models (and often brand new Hondas) are often tuned, lowered and bodykitted; some terrible ones come with loud exhausts and fake turbo whistles and booming sound systems.^** There is a huge aftermarket industry for tuners and JDM enthusiasts. I often observe Hondas getting into street races, tailgating and over-speeding. I prefer to avoid them or to let them through if I happen to encounter one on the road.

Here are a few examples of tuned Hondas

BMW and Audi on the other hand, are often driven by drivers for their rich amo.

Don't agree with me that Honda's are Cock's cars? Just watch this.

A car company's image is often dictated by the kind of people who drive their cars.  Honda is no stranger to this since they don't allow their cars to be used as taxis, giving them a more premium image.  But what use is a premium image when you see the cars driven by indecent people?


Update: 6/13/14

A car fell into the Talayan Creek along Araneta Ave. yesterday, independence day (causing heavy traffic).  Guess what, it was a Honda, and driven by a college student.   Just look at this video.

Update 7/30/14

I bet it was the Honda driver's fault.  Picture courtesy of Top Gear Philippines.


Update: 10/02/14

And more embedded posts from TOP GEAR

Post by TOP GEAR PHILIPPINES.

Yesss, very classy.

Post by TOP GEAR PHILIPPINES.

Nice Parking, douchebag..

Post by TOP GEAR PHILIPPINES.

How long before she crashes it?


Gusto magpasikat...

Post by Rick Barretto.

They just keep coming.

Post by TOP GEAR PHILIPPINES.

The one who hit the pedestrian was identified as a black Honda with a special plate number ALF-888. To be fair, it was the pedestrian's fault.

Post by TOP GEAR PHILIPPINES.



Oh my, Honda Civic driver murders a traffic enforcer... Bad man.

I guess we should consider ourselves lucky that there are no Honda taxis.

-------

*Other examples include calling Citroens as cars that are only driven by people who do not know how to drive; Lexus are driven by Freemasons; the Chevrolet Camaro as driven by murderers; and Rover, Perodua, Proton as “rubbish”.

**This is known derogatorily as the “ricer” style.