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Japanese car manufacturer unveils modern jeepney prototype

The exclusive distributor of Japanese trucks and buses in the Philippines showcased their prototype designs on modern jeepneys Oct. 12.

The Hino Motors Philippines Corp. (HMP), during the 1st Philippine Auto Parts Expo, showed prototypes of their modern jeepneys, their contribution to the government’s public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program.

The first prototype, the Hino Jeepney, resembles a minibus and has a seating capacity of 22 passengers and enough space for standing passengers.

The other prototype, the Hino Jeepney NAC, shares the same features with the first prototype mentioned, but has a bigger seating capacity of 28.

Passengers would be able to use the Beep card, currently used in trains, as mode of payment for these jeepneys.

“Wala nang sabit sabit, it’s big enough, it’s convenient to pay because of that beep thing,” Entrepreneur Philippines quoted HMP Chairman Vicente T. Mills Jr. as saying.

Mills said the HMP’s contribution will help the government’s modernization program, which aims to implement tougher emissions, safety, and roadworthiness standards on public vehicles.

He also said that Filipinos who are against the program should accept the evolution of PUVs and look beyond its symbolism.

“Of course there are some people who are always objecting to anything. They want to hang on to this symbol of the Filipinos but that symbol is nice for the museums now, it’s time to move on,” he said.

Other companies like Del Monte Motor Works, Inc. and Diamond Motor Corporation also exhibited their modern jeepney prototypes in the 1st Philippine Auto Parts Expo.

Source: Entrepreneur Philippines

Photo credits: Hino Motors Philippines

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