The country’s most anticipated auto show is back as the 14th Manila International Auto Show officially opened its doors last April 5 to thousands of car aficionados and industry players! To inaugurate the grand launch of MIAS 2018, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the main lobby of the venue.
In attendance during the opening ceremony were Worldbex Services International’s Founding Chairman Joseph L. Ang, Co-Founder Levi S. Ang, Managing Director Jill Aithnie Ang, Executive Director Arch. Francisco Flameño, Jr., Rene Ramos, Tessie Roque, Jason Ang, Ulyssess Ang, and Alvin Uy together with guests of honor, DRTI Usec. Thomas Orbos, BOI Governor Henry Co, MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim, and AAP President Gus Lagman.
Riding on the theme of “Work & Play” which was inspired by two of the most central reasons that motivate people to buy cars, MIAS 2018 is ready to stir up some serious auto action as it unveils its biggest installment yet.
Following the success of last year’s edition, MIAS 2018 is guaranteed to serve up another remarkable spectacle. But this time around, the emphasis will be on cars and automotive innovations that will live up to the “Work & Play” aspirations of auto enthusiasts. With that said, visitors of this year’s MIAS can expect to find an extensive range of vehicles that are either ideal for their various business and career agendas or ones that will help one’s business keep up with the demands of their trade. On the other hand, leisure fiends, adventure-seekers, and everyone else in between are sure to be impressed with the line-up of cars that are especially designed to elevate the way we travel.
Last year, MIAS managed to attract an estimate of 128,000 visitors as it hosted 145 companies and 250 displays throughout its four-day run. Growing massive each year, MIAS 2018 proudly boasts of an expanded venue. To be specific, this year’s show encompasses a whopping 34,850sqm of exhibit area as it houses 400 car and motorcycle displays. Its organizers also noted a 38% increase in exhibitors, a 60% increase in car and motorcycle displays, and a 16% increase in exhibition space. All these attest to the capacity of MIAS to continuously thrive amid uncharted territories.
Zooming in all that one can expect out of this year’s show, the event highlights to watch out for include this year’s round of highly anticipated auto releases. From special editions and updates to the latest models, visitors will enjoy unrestricted access to the hottest cars of the season. Some vehicles on display will likewise be available for test drives at the Test Drive area which can be found outside the venue’s main hall.
Attendees are invited to check out the public debut of the new Ford Mustang, Mitsubishi Xpander, new SUV models from Hyundai, the all-new RAM 1500 Laramie Crew Cab, the newly refined Mercedes-Benz GLC, Subaru’s new models with EyeSight feature, and the brand debut of GAZ from Russia and JAC’s introduction of its automobile models. During the opening day of MIAS, lucky visitors also got to witness several surprise debuts from heavyweight brands!
Attendees who weren’t able to be there for the first day shouldn’t fret as many more surprises and highlights await in the days to come. One of which is the collector and high-performance car displays. Some of the must-see models include the 1960s Porsche 356 Coupe to commemorate the brand’s 70th anniversary, a massive 5-unit army of Mercedes-Benz G Wagon 4×4 Squared at the Motul booth, a Rolls Royce restored by Alex Isip of Alex Restoration, Formula V1 race cars from TRS, as well as the extensive roster of vintage and classic cars at the PTTC hall.
In line with the orientation of this year’s MIAS which seeks to address the need to focus on commercial vehicles, the country’s leading custom off-roading authority will also be headlining the show with the Truck Pavilion, located at the north wing side of the show venue.
Meanwhile, those who are particularly into car customizations will be glad to know that this year’s Custom and Classic Car Competition will once again return to feature over a hundred entries of the most eye-catching and creative car set-ups.
Living up to its reputation as the ultimate destination for car enthusiasts, also not to be missed at this year’s MIAS is the Die Cast Display which will features miniature versions of the most beloved car models from various franchises. Additionally, another highly sought-after component of MIAS is the Swap Meet, a gathering of members who would buy, sell, or trade die cast car models among one another.
MIAS is also thrilled to announce the return of the Russ Swift Stunt Show, an annual event highlight which showcases a series of mind-blowing stunt performances by international precision driver and Guinness World Record holder Russ Swift. Swift will be using his trusty Subaru cars for all his shows.
Knowing MIAS, things are just starting to heat up! Don’t dare miss the biggest auto event of the year and catch MIAS 2018: Work & Play as it happens until April 8, from 10:00am to 10:00pm at the World Trade Center Metro Manila and the Philippine Trade Training Center. The event is organized by Worldbex Services International, the country’s leading events and expositions organizer.