The curiosity and eagerness of car enthusiasts have finally been curbed as Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) unveils its latest innovation, the 11^th generation All-New Honda Civic!

Despite the launch was held virtually on Honda Cars Philippines’ official Facebook page on November 23, car aficionados in the country inevitably lauded and expressed their awe the new arrival of this much anticipated sedan.

Brandishing its new clean-cut look along with a power pack high-tech features, and a standard VTEC turbo engine for a powerful and engaging driving experience, this car will become talk of the town.

Interestingly, Civic sales in the Philippines started back in 1991 and it was the first Honda vehicle offered in the country. Throughout several generations, the iconic model garnered much love from many loyalists and enthusiasts. Notably, the Civic recorded sales of more than 132,000 units locally, as of October 2021. 

In his welcome remarks, Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. Mr. Masahiko Nakamura bannered HCPI’s mileston in the launching of the iconic model, the 11^th generation All-New Honda Civic.

“The Civic has been an iconic nameplate in the market. Local sales started back in 1991, and it was the first Honda vehicle that was offered in the country. Throughout several generations, it garnered much love from many loyalists and enthusiasts. In fact, globally, the Civic recorded more than 27 million units sales to date,” Mr. Nakamura said.

He also noted that the 11^th generation All-New Honda Civic is one of the most competitive entries in the compact sedan segment.

Mr. Nakamura expressed his gratitude to the added power pack in the VTEC turbo engine, as well advanced technology and safety features, including the Honda SENSING that would certainly provide “Safety for Everyone”.

“We believe that with the All-New Civic, we have developed an offering that further elevates this iconic model,” Mr. Nakamura concluded.

GRAND CONCEPT

For the 11^th generation, Honda was able to achieve the “Exhilarating Civic” through focusing on three (3) core values: Design, Dynamics, and HMI (Human Machine Interface). 

EXTERIOR

For its full-model change, the All-New Civic now has a more matured look, keeping it in line with its stablemates. The design was executed with a fine mixture of elegance and sportiness. Size-wise, the compact sedan is longer by 29mm and its wheelbase is longer by 37mm when compared to its predecessor.

Upfront, it gets a pair of newly shaped headlights that either houses full LEDs or projector halogens. For style and functionality, Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) are made standard across the range. Its cleaner yet more prominent fascia can also be had with LED fog lights that are reserved for both the V Turbo CVT Honda SENSING and the RS Turbo CVT Honda SENSING. 

Going over the side, the 11^th generation Honda Civic flaunts its sleek lines, giving it an elegant and sporty stance. Plus, the long hood and its sloping roofline give the compact sedan added character. Integrated turn signals in the side mirrors are standard.  Its front pillar was also pushed back by nearly 2 inches, which elongates its hood for a premium silhouette. Visibility has also been improved, all thanks to the design changes with its door mirrors. 

Wheel options, on the other hand, include a set of 16-inch rims on the S, 17-inch alloys on the mid-range V, and 18-inch matte black wheels on the RS. 

The entire rear end has also been redone, having a new pair of LED taillights that elegantly illuminates in the night. Other RS-exclusive details include black-painted side mirrors, door handles, sharkfin antenna and trunk spoiler, along with chrome-finished dual-exhaust pipes for a sportier look. 

INTERIOR

Like the exterior, the 11^th generation All–New Civic’s interior takes quite of a departure from its predecessor. Its minimalist design has been executed with quality materials, from its soft touchpoints to the honeycomb pattern found on the vents. Depending on the trim level, the All–New Civic could either come with fabric seats, or a fine combo of suede and leather upholstery exclusive on the RS. 

Like its predecessor, the latest model is still strong in terms of interior and cargo space. It still has more cabin space than most sedans in the segment. Additional space was used to improve the ease of getting in and out of the car. Plus, its new dimensions also translate to better rear seat comfort. Compartments are located all around the cabin for personal possessions. Passengers will definitely enjoy their conversations inside the car with improved noise, vibration and harshness levels.

For in–car entertainment, all variants of the All–New Civic come with touchscreen display audio that either measures 7-inches or 9-inches. Both screens are Android Auto and Apple CarPlay capable, while the larger screen has Wireless Apple CarPlay. These infotainment systems power 4 speakers for the S, and 8 speakers for the V. The RS variant, on the other hand, comes with a 12–speaker Bose sound system. 

Other standard convenience features include automatic climate control, and dual zone that is exclusive on the RS variant, while rear air vents, on the other hand, are available for both the V and up. 7-inch digital display with analog is available for both audio and Bluetooth functions, while the larger 10.2-inch full-digital cluster is exclusive on the RS—all these supported with steering wheel mounted controls.

ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION

One of the main highlights of the 11^th generation All–New Civic is the 1.5-liter 4-Cylinder DOHC VTEC Turbo engine found in all grades. Unlike its predecessor, the latest model now has an all–Turbo variant range. This engine can produce 178 PS and 240Nm of torque, which is an additional 5 Ps and 20Nm vs 10^th gen 1.5 VTEC Turbo engine. The Civic’s new powertrain also has an additional 37 PS and 66Nm, versus its predecessor’s 1.8L Naturally–Aspirated. All trims of the Civic are paired with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). The compact sedan even gets distinct driving modes including Econ, Normal, and lastly, Sport, that is particularly found in the RS variant.

SAFETY

In pursuit of Honda’s mission to provide “Safety for Everyone”, Honda SENSING is now standard in all variants of the 11^th generation All–New Civic.

The following features included:

・ Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS)

・ Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low–Speed Follow (LSF)

・ Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS)

・ Road Departure Mitigation System with Lane Departure Warning (RDM with LDW)

・ Auto High–Beam (AHB)

・ Lead Car Departure Notification System (LCDN) – New

The new Honda SENSING system uses a single monocular camera with a wider field of view combined with improved software offering better vehicle, motorcycle, bicycle, pedestrian and road marking recognition

As Honda continues to strengthen its “Safety for Everyone” global slogan, the All–New Civic helps realize this vision through Honda’s G–force Control (G–CON) Collision Safety Body that enhances impact absorption for the added protection of passengers in the event a collision occurs. In addition, customers can expect top–notch collision safety performance on the All–New Civic through its advanced safety features that are now available across all variants. This includes Speed Sensing Door Locks, Multi-View Reverse Camera, and Keyless Entry System that are standard for all grades, while the Side Curtain Airbags, Honda LaneWatch Camera, and the Walk Away Auto Door Lock function are exclusive on the RS variant. 

Furthermore, other features such as the Driver and Front Passenger Airbags, Side Airbags, Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), Hill Start Assist (HSA), Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), Child Lock, ISOFIX Child Seat Anchor, Security Alarm, and immobilizer are standard safety features for all variants. 

With these superior safety features, the All–New Civic boasts a 5–star safety rating under the new 2021 ASEAN NCAP assessment, giving customers better safety and peace of mind on the road.

AVAILABILITY AND COLORS

The 11^th generation All–New Civic is now available at all 37 Honda Cars dealerships nationwide and comes in five (5) colors:

• Morning Mist Blue Metallic (new color; V Turbo CVT Honda SENSING and S Turbo CVT Honda SENSING)
• Meteoroid Grey Metallic (new color; RS Turbo CVT Honda SENSING, V Turbo CVT Honda SENSING, and S Turbo CVT Honda SENSING)
• Ignite Red Metallic (exclusively for RS Turbo CVT Honda SENSING)
• Platinum White Pearl (RS Turbo CVT Honda SENSING and V Turbo CVT Honda SENSING only)
• Lunar Silver Metallic (exclusively for S Turbo CVT Honda SENSING)

*Platinum White Pearl– Additional PHP 20,000

Notably, HCPI is offering customers the chance to purchase a Platinum White Pearl All–New Civic for all variants at no additional cost until November 30, 2021. Furthermore, customers who will reserve the All–New Civic V Turbo CVT Honda SENSING variant until December 31, 2021 are entitled to a free Modulo Trunk Tray and Modulo Exhaust Pipe Finisher on top of all other promotions offered for the month of the vehicle release until January 31, 2022. 

Below are all the available variants of the All–New Honda Civic with their corresponding Suggested Retail Prices:

• S Turbo CVT Honda SENSING – PHP 1,290,000
• V Turbo CVT Honda SENSING – PHP 1,498,000                                                               
• RS Turbo CVT Honda SENSING – PHP 1,690,000

Head on to www.hondaphil.com VIRTUAL SHOWROOM now or visit the nearest Honda Cars dealership to know more about the All-New Civic and the latest promos and offers from Honda.

Despite the lowering of 2020 sales projections across the automotive sector due to prolonged lockdowns and limitations in physical movements, TMP has reported several bright spots indicating industry resilience and showing promise of recovery.

“Even though the past year has been challenging, the market has shown incredible resilience and was able to achieve 242,000 in sales,” said TMP President Atsuhiro Okamoto. “That being said, I am pleased to announce that TMP was able to achieve 100,019 unit sales in 2020, with an expanded share of the market at 41.3%,” he added.

TMP Chairman Alfred Ty shared this optimism, citing efforts from the government and industry partners all contributing to improvements in market conditions and overall environment for both businesses and the consumers.

“While the automotive industry as a whole may have seen challenging sales at the onset of the pandemic, we also saw gradual growth from the lowest point in May. We expect this increase to continue as Filipinos ease back into their daily routines and resume pursuing the life goals that had to take a backseat in 2020,” said Ty.

Signs of Progress

Ty is positive that currently, economy is improving, and that businesses will recover in due time.

“Every week there are new developments regarding a COVID-19 vaccine and while this may not be the be-all and end-all solution to this pandemic, it is a welcome development and a sign that progress is happening earlier than expected,” said Ty.

“Also on the brighter side of things, the “Build, Build, Build” project of the government and the private sector is coming into fruition. We commend the continuous construction of these new roads and highways which will enable economic recovery efforts and bring more joy to driving,” Ty added.

Crucial Government Support

TMP’s top executives also welcomed recent pronouncements by Board of Investments (BOI) officials regarding the possibility of extending the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) Program in consideration of the impact of the pandemic on car manufacturing and sales.

“We thank the government for considering the extension of the CARS Program. This is very crucial for the existence of local production not only for the existing players but also in attracting additional investment in the industry. In this business of the automotive industry, where the market is still at a growing stage and lower-priced vehicles dominate new cars sold, the key to survival is volume. Economies of Scale is much needed to make investments sustainable, whether a Completely Built-Up (CBU) or Completely Knocked Down (CKD) player, or both.” said Ty.

Balancing Act

Speaking about the healthy balance of TMP’s CBU and CKD business, TMP President Okamoto also addressed the most recent issue to affect not just car companies but also the entire supply chain of the local car manufacturing sector. Okamoto emphasizes TMP’s position as a major player for both CBU and CKD operations.

“With the recent announcement of Safeguard duties, market recovery will be adversely affected and growth may be much more limited, as early as when provisional duties are implemented.

As you know, however, TMP operates on the basis of a combination of locally-produced and imported vehicles. We will maximize efforts to promote sales of our Vios and Innova to cushion the impact of safeguard duties. We are counting on the support of Filipinos to BUY FILIPINO,” said Okamoto.

Toyota’s vast and diverse line-up of vehicles is mostly composed of imported CBU models, but TMP is optimistic of the opportunity that can open for its locally-manufactured vehicles – the Vios and Innova.

“We are thankful for the government’s initiative to promote local production. However, the automotive industry is driven by volume and motivated by a wide range of choices. A mix of imported CBU models will still be needed to be able to meet the mobility needs of the country. We are confident that we will find ways to move forward as we have always done. Together with the government, we are excited to work towards realizing our vision of providing mobility for all,” Okamoto added.

Mobility For All

In the end, TMP believes that as the largest mobility company in the Philippines, it has the responsibility to help push the local automotive industry forward, and steer the country towards economic recovery.

Citing a statement from Toyota Motor Corporation President Akio Toyoda, TMP Chairman Ty stressed the automotive industry’s role as the backbone of every country’s economy.

“The automotive industry provides mobility for all of us. And when we talk of the automotive industry, this does not only cover vehicle production and sales, but it includes parts, logistics, and public transportation,” said Ty.

“Mobility brings us a new wind, a change in landscape and, most importantly, it brings us closer to tomorrow. This 2021, I hope we can continue to support each other as we brave the challenges and seize the opportunities the new year will bring,” Ty added.

I won’t pretend to be an expert in Japanese culture or business dynamics. But I could fairly claim a good familiarity with their unique “keiei rinri” or business ethics.

The COVID-19 pandemic, a virus that originated in Wuhan, China has created a global health crisis that affected everyone’s life and the broad spectrum of businesses. And for the Japanese, a crisis is something that they will never refuse to deal with. Needless to say, crisis is an opportunity for them to seize. This is the reason why the Japanese have this proverb, “Ishi no ue ni mo sannen.” (Patience and perseverance lead to success.)

Japanese is known for being resilient, and this is something we Filipinos can learn from. For them, the pandemic is a crisis that needs to be dealt with utmost patience, prudence and courage.

The recent decision of Nissan Philippines to shut down its assembly operations in the country this March has caught many people by surprise — myself not included for reasons I’d discuss later.

Despite this unfortunate development, Nissan Philippines Inc. President and Managing Director Atsushi Najima assured valued customers and the Filipino people that Nissan Philippines is here to stay and shall continue to serve its customers. “Nissan remains committed to its investments in the Philippines. The company will continue to contribute to the growth of the Philippine automotive industry through its innovative products and excellent services, as well as its dealer expansion nationwide,” said Mr. Najima.

THEPHILBIZNEWS has always been in the loop when it comes to Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) updates on business developments concerning Japanese firms. In recent years, it has aired concerns over changes in the ownership of the companies in the Philippines and tax incentives to encourage more investors to come or stay in the Philippines. But apparently, the Department of Finance continues to be deaf to calls for incentives. The Board of Investments of the Philippines (BOI) has said that incentives afforded to foreign investors should at least be at par with other ASEAN-member countries.

This is the same sentiment across foreign chambers of commerce in the Philippines, that the incentives for foreign investors would be something attractive to keep their business in the country given the fact our ASEAN neighbors have been very aggressive in enticing investors to do business in their respective countries.

I remember what the president of a Korean company in the Philippines told me back in the third quarter of 2016 when they invited me to the groundbreaking of their other branch. In a worried tone, he said: “The Philippines should not just focus on China investors. This is bad for the country and will spook other foreign investors.”

The truth is, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and now Cambodia have been very aggressive in their bells and whistles strategy by offering attractive incentives to foreign investors. My Japanese friend who studied in the UK describes these trade policies as “very hard to refuse.”

Compared with other Asian counterparts and Westerners, the Japanese have group solidarity, even in terms of decision-making. Thus, it is important to understand this peculiar cultural mindset of the Japanese. The team concept is not just strong but also very important to them.

I can safely presume that the decision of Nissan Philippines to close the assembly operation in the Philippines went through the “nemawashi.” This involves the Japanese’s management values consensus. I am sure even companies that are part of JETRO have the same process. And as what a Japanese proverb says, “A single arrow is easily broken but not ten in a bundle.”

I hope that before other foreign firms follow to the exit, this administration will take time to seriously listen to the sentiments and valuable input not just of the Japanese investors but also to other investors.

As for Nissan Philippines, they will continue to be here in the country to do business and my hope is they will reinstate their assembly plant when better times return at the end of this pandemic. Perhaps, the government can even start reaching out to the top executives of Nissan and see how they can help in its bid to ramp up its sustainable mobility initiatives.

As they gear up to launch the Nissan Leaf in the Philippines, I hope that the government will look beyond the marketing activity of Nissan Philippines Inc., by encouraging them to start manufacturing their EV in the Philippines and give them the necessary and attractive incentives and start the ball rolling again. When this happens, this would certainly catch the attention of other foreign investors and suddenly put the Philippines on their radar for future offshore investment plans.

Sadly, the myopic view of some of Duterte’s economic managers unwittingly shooed away many foreign investors and would be investors. Which for me is not only idiotic but also counter-intuitive.

Case in point, the feeling genius but bookish Department of Finance Undersecretary Kendrick Karl Chua, who was invited to be one of the speakers in the British Chamber of Commerce Philippines 2019 Philippine Business Outlook Briefing held at Dusit Thani Manila together with UK Ambassador to the Philippines Daniel Pruce, DTI Assistant Secretary Angelo Taningco, Department of Finance Undersecretary Karl Chua, and renowned economist Dr. Bernie Villegas.

In his speech attended by business leaders, diplomats, representatives from the government and private sector and the media, Chua blasted the Japanese companies and their executives when he said that when he visited Japan perhaps to eat sashimi and sushi, he found out that the tax reform program that his master wanted to implement was not welcomed very much not just by the Japanese companies doing business in the Philippines but also other foreign companies.

Obviously, Chua trained his gun on the ever-calm Japanese executives who attended the Business Outlook Briefing either because he doesn’t have an iota of knowledge about dealing with Japanese, or because his DNA has resentment against the Japanese.

Either way, the most uncouth thing to do or to shoo away investors is to insult them. Telling that these Japanese companies and their executives who didn’t understand the confused tax reform programs he wanted to implement was either lying or didn’t understand it, was uncalled for. It is his duty as the proponent to explain further if others don’t understand it. But shaming them in a gathering of business does not make him better than them!

Nonetheless, Nissan Philippines still took a daring gambit in their plan to bring in the EV to the Philippines. I wish them well in their effort and determination to contribute to environmental preservation through sustainable mobility. For our government, I hope to see astuteness in them and see an opportunity in the future of mobility and support Nissan in their effort to import the vehicles and then in the process convince them to set up their manufacturing of EV in the Philippines.

On final note, it is an admirable tactic for Nissan to be at the forefront in bringing the EV to the Philippines as they look towards the future. As the Japanese proverb goes, “Koketsu ni irazunba koji wo ezu“. (You cannot get a cub without going into the tiger’s cave.)