This immersion project serves as an opportunity for the world to witness the Filipinos’ unique way of life and how cars are helping them go through their daily lives

LOCALLY-assembled Toyota Innova leads the convoy consisting of the Hilux, Corolla Altis Hybrid, Rush, Fortuner, RAV4 and the Vios.

Toyota Motor Corp. (TMC) brought the 5 Continents Drive to the Philippines just last month. The Japanese carmaker, through its local affiliate Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) together with the global affiliates concluded the Philippine leg of the global project 5 Continents Drive at the Philippine Goal Event at Toyota Manila Bay Corp. (TMBC).

Officially launched in a send-off ceremony at TMP’s Santa Rosa, Laguna plant last 19 November, the project brought 27 Toyota engineers and technical experts from TMC, TMP, Toyota Daihatsu Engineering and Manufacturing (TDEM) and Toyota Motor Asia Pacific (TMAP) to the roads of Metro Manila, Bulacan, Tarlac, La Union, Baguio, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Zambales and back to Manila for a goal event at TMP’s dealership along Manila Bay.

The 5 Continents nine-vehicle convoy for the Philippine Drive was composed of the locally-assembled Vios and Innova, together with the Hilux, Corolla Altis Hybrid, Rush, Fortuner and the RAV4.

“Toyota Motor Philippines is honored to be a part of the historic 5 Continents Drive, with our very own team members guiding the group as local experts. They will help the 5 Continents Drive team understand not only the local road conditions, but also the country’s transportation situation, and culture,” TMP president, Satoru Suzuki said during the send-off ceremony.

DRIVERS from various countries immersed in Philippine roads.

“This immersion project serves as an opportunity for the world to witness the Filipinos’ unique way of life and how cars are helping them go through their daily lives,” he added.

As part of the preparations for the driving experience activity, the participants from Toyota’s Japan, Thailand and Singapore offices were taught local road rules and regulations, and briefed on local road traffic situation and safety reminders.

They were also exposed to the unique ways Filipinos are customizing transport solutions, like the use of Toyota’s Hiace models as public utility vehicles locally known as UV Express. A visit at Toyota’s Angeles dealership also helped the team gather more insights on the Philippine market in terms of transportation situation, culture and relevance of vehicles to every Filipinos’ daily routine.

NINE-vehicle convoy traversed from Manila to Baguio and back.

In line with Toyota’s commitment to making “ever-better cars”, the 5 Continents Drive team aims to drive various Toyota vehicles in local communities, diverse terrains and challenging environments which customers experience on the road on a daily basis.

With its motto: “Roads build people, and people build cars”, the 5 Continents Drive started in 2014 in Australia, and has since travelled across North and Latin America, Europe and Africa. The team started their Asia Drive this February 2019 in the Middle East and is slated to end in Japan in time for the milestone Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in Tokyo this 2020.