THE Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS), organized by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines (Campi), is set to open on Oct. 24, 2024, and will run until October 27 at the World Trade Center in Pasay.

This four-day event aims to highlight the automotive industry from the perspective of the country's largest car organization.

Since late September, press materials have been flooding our inboxes, providing a preview of what to expect from the different car brand-members of Campi.

The thing is, what we're seeing so far resembles a Japanese, Korean, American (and a sprinkling of Chinese) version of the last Manila International Auto Show (MIAS).

Most of the cars from Campi are either hybrid or fully electric vehicles, with a noticeable shift away from the traditional internal combustion engine — essentially the same trend we observed among the brands at MIAS last summer.

While a wide array of technology will be presented at PIMS 2024, the main theme remains: it will be an electric vehicle trade show.

What makes this situation even more ironic is that, on the same day, the Electric Vehicle Summit will also open at the SMX Center in Pasay, showcasing exactly what we're expecting from Campi's show.

Will this affect the attendance and enthusiasm Campi anticipates for PIMS? Will the EV Summit be overshadowed by PIMS?

While I admit the two trade shows have differing objectives, the fact remains that both will feature electric vehicles, leading them to compete for attention.

Whoever was in charge of scheduling these shows should expect to hear some harsh words from both organizations. This scheduling conflict doesn't serve the car-buying public; while it offers more choices, it also risks confusing potential buyers.

Honda going electric

Speaking of electrification, a couple of weeks ago, Honda showcased their new direction toward battery power.

In a grand event at the Shangri-La Hotel at the Fort, Honda revealed not only their hybrid Honda Civic (which I am now lusting after) but also a lineup of electric motorcycles and a collection of battery-powered tools.

Honda said this global shift aligns with their strategy to leverage the advancement of battery electric power.

By creating an ecosystem centered around electric battery power, Honda can extend their extensive research into electric battery technology to a broader range of products.

It's a case of using a needle to thread a blanket.