20 of the best MIAS moments
The Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) celebrates twenty years of excellence in automotive exhibitions with its 2025 edition. MIAS 2025 is open from April 10 to 13 at the World Trade Center. Along the way, MIAS has sought to educate, entertain and energize automotive buyers and the auto sector. Here are some of the memorable moments from the past twenty years:
1 Manila Motor Show, as MIAS was known then, opened its doors in 2005. The MIAS organizers wanted to deliver a world-class exhibition for car manufacturers, and an exciting auto show experience for visitors. MIAS 2005 opened with a bang: a world-class Cirque du Soleil-style show to open the event, as the Car of the Year awardees rolled out on stage.
2 BMW showcased a generous sampling of its vehicles, including the 3-Series, X3, X5, and Motorrad motorcycles. To show what the cars were capable, BMW ran screenings of its The Hire short film series. The films featuring Munich’s best were directed by the likes of John Woo, Tony Scott, and Wong Kar-Wai.
3 Toyota gave the motoring a public preview of its then-new Fortuner SUV. The drive-by preview generated huge interest, foreshadowing the enormous success that the Fortuner would have in succeeding years.
4 Ford displayed its Philippine-built and -exported (Remember that!) Ford Focus. For its Ranger pick up, Ford built an off-road course at the MIAS north parking lot to showcase just what the tough cars could do.
5 In 2006, Autoplus displayed a Ford GT at MIAS. The limited-edition supercar was built to commemorate Ford’s 100th anniversary.
6 The 2006 MIAS was an opportunity for Mercedes-Benz to show a future mobility concept. The Mercedes-Benz Fuel Cell car used hydrogen as fuel to generate electricity for propulsion. Its only emissions: pure water from the tailpipe.
7 Nissan, then being distributed separately for cars and commercial vehicles, mounted a joint display to show the brand’s full lineup for probably the first time in a Philippine auto show.
8 2007 saw the return of Japanese cult favorite, Subaru, under the new distributor Motor Image. To commemorate the occasion, Subaru brought over Guinness World Record holder Russ Swift. Russ put the Subaru WRX through its paces, dazzling the MIAS crowd with his precision 2-second parking manuevers, J-turns and dance routine.
9 Autoplus displayed the race-winning Nismo GT-R, giving Japan GT touring car fans a chance to see the iconic car up close.
10 Chery demonstrated that not only bulky sedans and SUVs could act as personal secure transport, with its bulletproof Tiggo concept car.
11 Hyundai launched one of its quirkiest cars at MIAS, the three-door Veloster sporty coupe. The Veloster was a true coupe on one side, and carried the convenience of a rear-door on the passenger side.
12 Land Rovers can go where no other vehicles can. The British brand showed off its prowess using its custom-built Terrapod setup. The off-road simulation course was setup at MIAS, giving customers the chance to experience the vehicles’ capabilities first-hand.
13 Foton Philippines launched a pair of full-sized hybrid pickups at MIAS 2024. The Tunland V7 and V9 are powered by diesel hybrid powertrains. These combine the torque of a diesel engine and the efficiency of an electric motor, suitable for commercial and personal applications.
14 Volkswagen brought its full lineup to MIAS after its momentous Philippine re-launch. These included the Jetta, Polo, and Tiguan. Volkswagen is also a strong proponent for safety
15 Honda revealed its long-awaited Civic Type-R at MIAS 2017. The Type R, with 320ps and 400Nm, modulated by a six-speed manual transmission, quickly sold out its first batch.
16 Hyundai launches its N performance brand at MIAS. The Elantra N and Ioniq N represented the tire-burning, grin-inducing side of Hyundai, developed at Hyundai Motor Namyang R&D Center and honed at the legendary Nurburgring circuit.
17 As the world paused for the pandemic, so did MIAS. The 2020 onsite show was canceled for safety reasons. MIAS introduced its online auto-show alter ego, the Wired edition. MIAS Wired allowed customers to virtually tour brands’ auto showrooms. New cars from Hyundai and other brand were showcased virtually.
18 MIAS returned with a vengeance in 2022. Car enthusiasts were once again thrilled to walk along the gleaming metal at the World Trade Center. Subaru displayed its all-new BRZ and refreshed Forester. Chevrolet revealed the new Tahoe, while Nissan previewed its innovate e-Power hybrid electric vehicle system.
19 MIAS expanded to dual venues for the first time in 2024, with car brands exhibiting at both the World Trade Center and SMX. The expanded footprint allowed more brands to mount expansive displays, including several brands making their MIAS debuts.
20 Nissan followed the launch of its Kicks e-Power hybrid SUV and Leaf EV with its full-electric Ariya SUV. The all-wheel drive Ariya features dual motors to generate 394ps and 600Nm, and has a 500-km range.
With new brands and dozens of car launches and public debuts, MIAS returns to the World Trade Center on April 10, hoping to create new memorable moments for car enthusiasts and car buyers.
