TOYOTA CITED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE
Toyota Motor Phils. (TMP) recently received the ECOSWITCH Award from the Green Philippines Islands of Sustainability (GPIoS) Project for successfully implementing environment-friendly measures in its operations.

Funded by the European Union’s SWITCHAsia program, the GPIoS initiative seeks to contribute to an improved environmental and sustainable industrial development of Metro Manila and Calabarzon regions by introducing measures to save on energy, cut down on wastage and promote best environmental practices within organizations. At the awards ceremony are (from left) GMA Network Vice President for Corporate Affairs Teresa Pacis, TMP First Vice President Jose Aligada, TMP Environmental Engineer Emelyn Ibabao, TMP Executive Vice President Kenji Kitamura, TMP Environmental Engineering Group Supervisor Mark Marcelo, TMP Production Engineering Group head Joselito Abes and Environmental Compliance Consultants International Relationship Manager Luci Nuñez.

FILIPINO HYUNDAI TECHNICIANS TOP GLOBAL TILT
PHILIPPINE distributor Hyundai Asia Resources Inc. (HARI) bared that technicians Roberto Garzon Jr. of Hyundai Shaw and Jay Villa of Hyundai Balintawak have bagged the Hyundai Excellent Skills Award at the 9th Hyundai World Skills Olympics that was recently held in South Korea. HARI noted that the pair delivered on Hyundai’s “Cordial, Accurate, Reliable and Efficient” Best Care service approach.

“The auto industry is advancing at top speed as far as technology is concerned,” said HARI President and Chief Executive Officer Fe Agudo. “In this regard, Hyundai is ever heedful of the customer’s voice in delivering top-of-the-line products and services.”

Agudo added that Garzon’s and Villa’s victory “proves that HARI is totally in step with Hyundai’s stance on improving service quality and creating new values for our customers.”

The accolade is HARI’s fourth-straight win at Hyundai Motor Co.’s biennial event as the Philippine Hyundai distributor had clinched the Superior Skills Award in 2005 and the Excellent Skills Award in 2009.

HARI said the Hyundai World Skills Olympics was first held in 1995. This year, 79 contenders from 52 countries vied for the top awards.

NISSAN HOLDS CONFERENCE ON CUSTOMER SERVICE
NISSAN Motor Phils. Inc. (NMPI) said that it recently held a conference on customer satisfaction with all its dealers and those of Universal Motors Corp. (UMC), which also assembles and sells Nissan vehicles.

According to NMPI, the highlight of the event was the formal awarding by J.D. Power Asia Pacific to Nissan, as the company topped the 2011 Philippine Sales Satisfaction Index Study. Showing a marked improvement in terms of customer service, Nissan climbed to the top spot from fourth place last year, besting eight other automotive companies in the country.

J.D. Power Asia Pacific Philippine Country Manager Amit Patil presented the study based on responses from almost 1,500 new-vehicle owners who purchased their vehicles between August 2010 and February 2011. NMPI said Nissan garnered a score of 839, and performed well in the delivery process and salesperson factors, too.

At the conference, NMPI said it and UMC handed out various awards, including best dealer in terms of customer satisfaction, which was given to Nissan Westgate Alabang and Nissan Iloilo. The award is Nissan’s highest local recognition given to a dealership. Nissan Gallery Quezon Avenue and Nissan Cagayan de Oro were named Most Improved Dealer in customer satisfaction.

Meanwhile, Nissan Iloilo received the 2011 Philippine Global Nissan’s Sales and Service Way Award—the dealership’s second.

“Nissan is committed to quality leadership in the automotive industry, and sales and service quality is critical to that commitment,” said NMPI President and Chief Executive Officer Allen Chen.