TOYOTA WINS PEOPLE AWARD
Toyota Motor Phils. (TMP) recently received an Asian Human Capital Award (AHCA) Special Commendation Prize for its Human Resources Team Relations Program that had transformed the culture within TMP to one that promotes open communication and transparency. TMP is the first automotive, as well as the first Japanese-affiliated company, to win the award. The AHCA is a prestigious regional award that honors innovative and impactful people practices adopted by multinational companies in Asia. It is jointly sponsored by the Singapore Ministry of Manpower, INSEAD business school, CNBC Asia Pacific and the Human Capital Leadership Institute. The awarding ceremony was conducted during the 2012 Singapore Human Capital Summit. The award affirms TMP’s Employer of the Year citation it had received in 2011 from the People Management Association of the Philippines. TMP President Michinobu Sugata (right) receives the award from Singapore Acting Minister for Manpower and Senior Minister of State for National Development Tan Chuan-Jin.

HYUNDAI DISTRIBUTOR POSTS 15% GROWTH IN 3Q
PHILIPPINE distributor Hyundai Asia Resources Inc. (HARI) reported it had wrapped up the third quarter with overall sales rising by 15 percent as it sold 17,156 units from January to September this year, compared against the 14,883 vehicles it sold during the same period in 2011.

HARI credited its positive performance to the sales of its passenger car models, which grew 48 percent to 10,652 units sold for the first three quarters of the year versus the 7,217 units sold during the same period last year. Sales gains in the passenger car segment were attributed to the Hyundai Accent, Elantra, i10 and the newly launched Eon.

HARI said sales of its light commercial vehicles bounced back with an 11-percent rise in September, or 709 units sold compared to the 636 units delivered in the same month last year. The improvement came with the initial sales of the all-new Hyundai Santa Fe, according to the company, which added that global supply limitations had affected its passenger car sales, resulting in a 12-percent year-on-year drop in September.

SHELL PROGRAM DRAWS 100,000 CONSUMERS GLOBALLY
PILIPINAS Shell said that within months of launching its Target One Million—a campaign to help a million people around the world learn how to save fuel—more than 100,000 consumers worldwide have already learned fuel-saving techniques.

“Shell is constantly working to promote smarter energy use and has more than 100 years of experience in providing the world’s motorists with quality fuels,” said Pilipinas Shell Marketing Delivery Manager Stephanie Cua. “Target One Million is the latest step along this journey and we are thrilled that it has resonated so well among Philippine motorists. We want to continue communicating that the right choice of fuel, like Shell FuelSave Unleaded and Shell FuelSave Diesel, and a few simple changes to driving behavior can help motorists save on fuel, and in doing so, reduce their fuel costs.”

Shell explained that people can participate by playing the Target One Million online mini-games. The first, Shell FuelSave Challenge, is available at www.shell.com.ph/targetonemillion. The next mini-game, Shell FuelSave Bootloader, was launched this month.

GOODYEAR’S AIR TECHNOLOGY GETS PUBLICATION’S NOD
POPULAR Mechanics has named Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. as a 2012 Breakthrough Award winner for their Air Maintenance Technology (AMT), Goodyear Phils. said in a news release. It explained that the Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Award, which is now in its eighth year, recognizes the innovators and products that have dramatically advanced the fields of technology, medicine, space exploration, automotive design, environmental engineering and more.

“We are honored to be named as one of Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Award winners for 2012,” said Goodyear Chief Technical Officer Jean-Claude Kihn. “Our Air Maintenance Technology will enhance driving performance while having a positive impact on the environment through improved fuel efficiency, reduced emissions and extended tire life.”

Goodyear said its AMT helps ensure that optimum tire pressure is maintained, and as a result, could mean substantial savings for car owners at the fuel pump. Citing government and industry research, Goodyear said that underinflated tires result in a 2.5-percent to a 3.3-percent decrease in fuel economy.

SAFE T RYDERS HOLDS 5TH MEETING WITH BIKE CLUBS
SAFE T Ryders announced it recently held its fifth club meet-up with hundreds of motorcycle riders belonging to several Caloocan motorcycle groups, adding that the event was hosted and organized by BRAD Riders Club led by Jonell Miguel and Joel Clamor.

“With the growing number of motorcycles riders in our area, we are honored to welcome the road safety team of Safe T Ryders for an afternoon of learning safety tips,” said Clamor.

The road safety team was composed of Alberto Suansing, former LTO chief and now Secretary General of the Philippine Global Road Safety Partnership, Love-Love Tioseco, celebrity motorcycle racer and television personality, and Arnel Doria, founder of Safe T Ryders Training Center.

Among the issues tackled at the event was ICC stickers on motorcycle helmets, Safe T Ryders said. “Motorcycles helmets with ICC stickers are legitimate and legal. Any enforcer who will ask for other requirements is simply mulcting,” said Suansing.

Technicians from Prestone were also present to test brake fluids of the motorcycles. “The brake system is one of the most important safety features of a motorcycle. Once it fails, it could mean life or death to the rider,” warned Dan Santiago of Prestone.

Doria conducted a short discussion on the effects of alcohol when riding, which featured a lively demonstration of mild and strong intoxication using Fatal Vision goggles that simulate the loss of eye and muscle coordination due to high blood alcohol concentration.

For more information, call 208-8035 or 0932-8723389.