Quote Originally Posted by niky View Post
Here's the sticking point we got stuck on before.

The data only shows that many people are registering imported vehicles or commercial vehicles that have been converted (taxis). They do not show that these people chose them over locally-assembled brand-new units.

Kaya nga, the question is: If that person didn't buy a secondhand Subic Pajero or Delica... would they have bought a brand new Jeepney or a brand new Pajero? Or would they just buy a local secondhand. (and remember... local secondhands maintain their prices, even if Subic or Cagayan units are available, so the idea that those units affect the resale value of local units is a wash).

Buyers who buy a surplus Pajero aren't the same buyers who'd buy a brand-new L300 FB. Delica buyers maybe, but buyers who want an FB for commercial use would more likely buy a used local FB, since these are available for much less than imported Delicas.

No formal study has been done to show what these buyers' considerations were. Some surveys have shown that these buyers wouldn't buy new, anyway. I'd actually be interested to find out, really, if the government were to sponsor a survey, what's really happening.
But these do not change the fact that smuggled second hands are negatively affecting the local auto industry. As I have pointed out many times in this thread using various articles with resource persons coming from the auto sector itself.

Its very clear.

Strangely, the L300 FB is already one of the best-selling cars on the market... why would it need government incentives?
Prices will be further reduced.


Price is the problem. And convincing people to buy brand new instead of secondhand, in the first place. There's a market for brand new, but volume is a limiting factor.
Thats the reason why incentives will be given by the government (through MVDP) to local assemblers to produce utility CKDs that are affordable.



While I'm pro-LPG, I'm a bit wary of this program, not knowing the source of these engines and their possible long-term durability. Though getting a lot of those polluting old diesels off the road is a good thing.
The government has already allotted money through DBP for the purchase of brand new engines using clean gas i.e LPG, CNG..

David Motors, a jeepney maker also is in the conversion of diesel to LPG because its cheaper and cleaner.