Mobility for families in traffic laden Manila

MANILA, Philippines — There is much to be said about how people move around in this era of traffic-laden roads and rising prices of gas. The problem of moving people in one vehicle from one point to another in a comfortable yet affordable way is a problem that Ayala-owned AC Industrials through its latest brand Maxus seeks to address.

AC Industrials launched its Maxus G10 family multipurpose vehicle (MPV) recently.

The Problem

One only has to look out the window of whatever you drive or ride in the early mornings to know that there are thousands of commuters in the metro rushing to their places of work — and a lack of efficient ways to get there.

During rush hour, EDSA seems stuck in a state of congestion. Cars crawl along the 23.9-km highway and easily spend at least an hour in slow-moving traffic. Commuters flood the streets and jostle for space in search of a ride.

As I drove to work at around 5 a.m., I listened to the situation on the radio regarding the MRT — how a train at certain area has broken down and its riders are off-loaded to wait for another train or bus.  Sigh.

This saddens me, because in a sense we have gotten used to what Metro Manila has become (although I will really never get used to it) and the problems of mobility we Pinoys face five days a week.

I recently read in a study by the Japan International Cooperation Agency that in Metro Manila, travel by public transport accounts for 69 percent of the total number of trips taken every day, with buses and jeeps accounting for 71 percent of these trips.

Enter Maxus

I recently got to try the Maxus G10 as a mode of transport. I was the driver of course. Maxus Philippines is the sixth automotive brand partner under the AC Industrials wing, which includes other world-renowned car brands such as Honda, Isuzu, Volkswagen, Kia and KTM motorcycles.

Now, lest you think that Maxus is some unknown brand — read on.

The Maxus auto brand traces its British roots to as far back as the creation of the Leyland Steam Van in 1896, followed by the start of Leyland Motors in 1907. This company eventually expanded its products to include sedans, buses and other commercial vehicles throughout its long history. The Maxus nameplate first appeared with the launch of the “Maxus” prototype LD100 van at the end of 2004. The Maxus V80 and Maxus G10 first rolled out in 2011 and 2014, respectively, with the Maxus G10 establishing the Maxus brand image.

Maxus has become one of Europe’s most influential and recognized commercial vehicle brands, and a leader in the design, production and distribution of international commercial vehicles.

Leyland DAF Vans launched the Maxus brand in 2004, and in 2010, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) acquired the assets of the LDV Group and continued the Maxus brand, which has current distributorships in Latin America, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and Africa, among others. In the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, Maxus vehicles continue to be sold under the LDV brand.

Maxus has been investing in new technologies, prototyping a pure electric wide-body light bus in 2014, an all-electric MPV in 2016, and a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle and internet-connected SUV in 2017.

It is this European heritage, coupled with the powerful global support of SAIC that provides AC Industrials with the confidence to introduce the Maxus automobile brand in the Philippines.

“The Maxus brand continues AC Industrials’ strategy of providing automobiles and motorcycles that not only speak of the rich heritage of their countries of origin, but are also the best examples of a global collaboration in vehicle engineering, design, assembly, and distribution,” said AC Industrials and Maxus Philippines CEO Arthur Tan,  during the recent launch.

The Maxus G10

The Maxus G10 offers a nine-seater MPV configuration with spacious interior amenities, highlighted by captain seats for 2nd and 3rd row, adjustable seats, split rear bench seat with tumble, flexible and spacious luggage room, 7-inch touchscreen radio with USB and Bluetooth and six-speaker system, a 220-volt power supply, and front and rear air-conditioning system.

I got a driver’s seat view of the Maxus G10, and I liked it. I was pleasantly surprised that it is so easy-to-drive and I loaded it with about six people who were all comfortably seated. And as I drove through Roxas Boulevard that day, I knew that the Maxus G10 would be a good family or barkada van — that would help decongest Manila’s traffic — one vehicle at a time.

I liked that the G10 is a safe vehicle. The Maxus G10 features the double-layer welding technology that meets European MPV active and passive safety standards, driver, front passenger and side airbags, 3-point seatbelts for all seats, ISOFIX Child Seats, reverse camera, and front and rear parking sensors. For “Max Stability” and handling, the G10 is fitted with a McPherson suspension at the front and the 5-link coil springs at the rear, and chassis timing by Lotus and GM Pan-Asia, resulting to increased stability and better handling.

The Maxus G10 is powered by a Euro4 1.9-liter diesel engine equipped with VGT charger mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission so the Maxus G10 can go on road trips with the high-power yet fuel-efficient output.

“All of our automotive brands offer unique value propositions to particular segments of the motoring market, and we envision Maxus to be very competitive in the commercial vehicle category, particularly in the passenger van and MPV segments,” said Maxus Philippines president Felipe Estrella. “Not only does its strength lie in transporting families, Maxus also adds a distinct proposition to cargo transport and shuttle services, offering our multitude of Pinoy small and medium-sized entrepreneurs the opportunity to get their shuttle and cargo businesses going in style, comfort and power.”

At this point in our traffic history the Maxus G10 might just be what the doctor ordered.