Zigwheels PH weekly wrap: January 26-30

MANILA: The last week of January 2026 closes out strongly, with plenty of movement across various parts of the local automotive industry. 

One brand has officially received a new distributor, while another announces its product lineup for the rest of 2026. The premier local industry group likewise saw a major reorganization with a line of new officers. 

Clearly, it has been a busy week. So, for those who missed the biggest news developments from January 26-30, here’s Zigwheels Philippines’ weekly wrap. 

Upcoming local cars

Toyota 2026 launch plans

Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) is ramping up its lineup after it announced its planned product launches for 2026.

The aforementioned consists of at least seven models for both Toyota and Lexus, and they comprise of: 

• Urban Cruiser
• Next-generation RAV4
• LC300 HEV
• Land Cruiser FJ
• Next-generation Hilux
• Refreshed IS
• All-new ES

For now, the distriibutor has not disclosed when these will be formally unveiled, but the Urban Cruiser, in particular, was already previewed by TMP. 

More about Toyota’s planned local launches here.

Geely EX-5 EM-i

Geely Motor Philippines (GMP) will be launching the EX5 EM-i soon. The company made the said announcement coinciding with the arrival of Geely EX5 EM-i units on Philippine shores. 

For now, no local specifications have been revealed, but we know it is a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) capable of achieving a fuel economy of up to 22.72 kilometers per liter (kpl). This figure is according to the New European Driving Cycle, but the model also broke a Guinness World Record by managing to provide 26.11 kpl on the Sydney-Melbourne Coastal highway. 

Learn more about the upcoming Geely EX-5 EM-i here.

Jaecoo J5 HEV

Omoda and Jaecoo Motor Philippines Incorporated (OJPH) will be introducing the J5 hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) for the local market soon. 

The company has yet to set a schedule for its introduction, but a preview has been set for the first quarter of 2026. To note, the electrified crossover can produce up to 221 horsepower and 295 Newton-meters of torque. 

Read more about the upcoming Jaecoo J5 HEV here. 

Global car launches

Updated Toyota Raize

In Indonesia, PT Toyota-Astra Motor introduced the updated Raize. The said facelift received a larger infotainment system and more interior eye candy, but the biggest change it saw was a new Gazoo Racing (GR) Sport trim. 

The all-new Indonesia-spec Toyota Raize GR Sport trim is based on a 1.0-liter turbocharged Raize, but it features a larger TFT display, a steering-wheel-mounted drive mode selector, a new LED taillight design, 17-inch black wheels, and GR-specific front and rear bumpers. 

More on the updated Indonesia-spec Toyota Raize here.

Other stories: A close look into GWM’s facilities in China New year, new ride: Next-gen Nissan Navara VinFast V7: 4 reasons to buy

 

Local industry updates

In the last week of January 2026, Dongfeng Motor Philippines announced plans to expand its dealership network. The aforementioned will be facilitated by signing up two new partners: Central Auto Resources and TJ Motors Ventures. 

The local presence of the Guangzhou Automobile Group Company (GAC) will now be handled by GAC International Philippines. The said company, which is directly under GAC Motor, carries all GAC-related brands for the local market. This includes both Aion and GAC. 

In the same time period, TMP has broken ground for its upcoming outlet in Antipolo, Rizal. The said dealership will have a 12,160-square-meter space, and it will boast 37 service bays, as well as a seven-car showroom. 

The Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP) has expressed its support for the government’s plans to renew the budget for the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) and the Electric Vehicle Incentive Strategy (EVIS) programs. 

Suzuki Philippines Incorporated (SPH) likewise celebrated its first-ever third-place ranking in the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Incorporated’s (CAMPI) automotive industry sales report for 2025. 

CAMPI also announced its latest lineup of officers. The organization’s new president is Jose Maria Atienza, who is also the concurrent Executive Vice President for Marketing. Atienza replaces Atty. Rommel Gutierrez, who has served in the role since 2012.

Meanwhile, Isuzu Philippines Corporation is still the top truck brand after 26 years. The aforementioned is per the Truck Manufacturers Association’s (TMA) 2025 report, which indicated that Isuzu’s local arm sold 4,794 units last year. 

Tesla Philippines bared its plan to establish a new Supercharging station in Opus Mall. It will be located at the mall’s level 3 mezzanine parking floor, and it increase the brand’s Supercharging station network to six Destination Charging stations with 24 Destination Chargers. 

Bajaj Philippines also had an eventful week by organizing the very first “Bajaj Longest Line” in Pagadian, Zamboanga del Sur. The said event saw the participation of 1,288 tricycle operators and drivers' association members. 

Changan Philippines has expanded its reach in the local market with new dealerships in Bacoor, Cavite, and Angeles, Pampanga. Both of the new Changan outlets are operated by the Gateway Group. 

Kia Philippines reported that it sold 7,819 units for the entirety of 2025. The aforementioned is equivalent to a 16.7 percent year-on-year growth for the South Korean marque’s local arm. 

VinFast Philippines likewise announced the revised version of its battery subscription program. Per VinFast, the program may reduce a consumer’s monthly costs by 20 percent. Subscribers can likewise enjoy additional benefits, such as maintenance, repairs, and free replacements when one’s battery capacity drops below 70 percent. 

Global industry updates

In the last week of January 2026, Nissan turned over its South African production facility to Chery Automobile. The aforementioned is a part of the Re:Nissan plan, which is seen to alleviate the current challenges the Japanese carmaker is facing. 

Fuso, on the other hand, has partnered up with tech giant Foxconn to establish a new bus manufacturing firm. The new corporation will be established within the year, and it focus on all-electric public transport. 

Bentley has showcased the capabilities of the Supersports model with Travis Pastrana. The aforementioned was done via an action-packed video featuring stunts and several high-performance Bentley guest stars. 

VinFast reported that it has sold a total of 406,453 e-scooter units in Vietnam. The said figure cements the brand as the biggest e-scooter brand in its home country. The brand also partnered with Autobrains to develop enhanced L2++ autonomous-driving technologies powered by artificial intelligence. 

The Hyundai Ioniq 9 likewise received the highest safety rating from the US-based Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). It showed particularly strong occupant protection, effective pedestrian detection, and high-performing lighting systems. 

The Jetour T1 has received a five-star safety rating from the New Car Assessment Program for Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN NCAP). It attained a score of 86.67 points from the said organization. 

Also read:

Zigwheels PH weekly wrap: January 19-23

Zigwheels weekly wrap: Jan. 12-16

Zigwheels weekly wrap: Jan. 5-9

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