Reported on October 13, 2021, the Covenant Car Company, Inc. (TCCCI) is slated to launch the all-new Chevrolet Trailblazer in Philippines in October, only 3 months after the sub-compact Tracker was introduced.
The all-new Chevrolet Trailblazer has nothing to do with its predecessor. The model is no longer a body-on-frame mid-sized 7-seater SUV. Instead, it is a 5-seater unibody compact SUV, expected to compete Geely Azkarra, Ford Territory, and to some extent, Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5.
The all-new Trailblazer carries the newest Chevrolet design language, presenting more modern silhouette, taut bodylines, and a bold hood shape. Powering the 2022 Trailblazer is a 1.3-liter turbocharged gasoline engine.
TCCCI has yet to unveiled what sort of features the all-new Trailblazer will have. However, the likely suspects such as LED head- and taillights, a panoramic sunroof, as well as the advanced driver assist technology are expected. Starting price is expected to be from PHP 1,488,888.
(From an article of CarGuide.PH on October 13, 2021)
CX-5 (Mazda)
On October 7, 2021, Mazda Motor Corporation announced it plans to expand its SUV lineup starting from 2022. The new models will include the Mazda CX-50 to be produced in its new U.S. plant, as well as models in its Large Product group, including the Mazda CX-60, Mazda CX-70, Mazda CX-80 and Mazda CX-90, all of which are slated for introduction over the next two years between 2022 and 2023.
The Mazda CX-50 is a crossover SUV that will be added as a new core model to the lineup and be introduced in the U.S. market. The production of the CX-50 will begin in January 2022 at the new Mazda-Toyota joint venture factory, Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, U.S.A., Inc. (MTMUS), built in Huntsville, Alabama, in the U.S.
As for the Large Product group, markets with narrower roads and smaller parking lots such as Europe and Japan, will welcome the introduction of the two-row seat CX-60 and the three-row seat CX-80. Meanwhile, the CX-70 and CX-90 will hit the road in North America and other markets where larger models with a big presence are preferred. Both models feature the wide body type, with the CX-70 having two rows of seats and the CX-90 having three.
The Large Product group models will offer a variety of choices of electrified powertrains to respond to each country's electrification roadmap. The European market, where electrification is already in-full-swing, will primarily see the introduction of plug-in hybrid models with straight-four gasoline engines combined with a motor drive. The straight-six new generation Skyactiv-X gasoline engine and Skyactiv-D diesel engine will also be introduced in combination with a 48V mild hybrid system.
In North America where high-power performance is valued, Mazda will introduce both turbo-charged straight-six gasoline engine models and plug-in hybrid models to meet customer requirements and respond to environmental regulations. Due to the enduring popularity of diesel engines in Japan, a straight-six Skyactiv-D diesel model with a 48V mild hybrid system and plug-in hybrid models will be introduced to the Japanese lineup.
In parallel, Mazda will carry out sales promotion activities for its first mass-production EV, the MX-30, and introduce models which incorporate multiple electrification technologies that use a rotary engine as a generator from the first half of 2022. In addition, Mazda will introduce a product line that uses an EV-dedicated platform from around 2025. Through the introduction of these models, Mazda plans to complete the electrification of all the models it produces by 2030.
(Mazda release on October 7, 2021)
Announced on October 6, Mazda Sales Thailand unveiled that its sales in September decreased 24% YoY to 2,980 vehicles. Compared to August 2021, sales up were 64% and every Mazda model recorded sales growth.
The new Mazda 2 retained its top position with sales of 1,799 units, followed by the all-new Mazda CX-30, new Mazda CX-3, all-new Mazda BT-50, all-new Mazda 3, new Mazda CX-5, and all-new Mazda CX-8, which achieved sales of 484 units, 350 units, 144 units, 122 units 46 units and 35 units, accordingly.
In January-September 2021 period, Mazda Thailand’s sales tallied 25,813 vehicles, declined around 1% from the same period in 2020.
Top 3 models contributed the highest were Mazda 2, Mazda CX-30 and Mazda CX-3, with sales of 13,534 units (down 6% YoY), 5,363 units (up 45% YoY), and 3,146 units (up 116% YoY), respectively.
Mazda is confident that local economy and automotive industry in the final quarter will be recovered, adding that it is the most spending period as well as agriculture’s harvest season. As people are response to country re-opening’s plan of the government, economic is expected to recover and benefit overall auto industry.
(From Mazda Sales Thailand press release on October 6, 2021)