Category Archives: Business

FIAT CAR SALES IN U.S. TRIPLE, THANKS TO POPE FRANCIS

U.S. bishops welcome Pope Francis in Washington, D.C., as he alights from a tiny Fiat
U.S. bishops welcome Pope Francis in Washington, D.C., as he alights from a tiny Fiat

AUBURN HILLS, Michigan (The Adobo Chronicles® ) –  Fiat, the Italian part of the global Fiat-Chrysler alliance, is having more and more trouble selling its small, inexpensive cars in America. Most recent data on “days to turn,” the average number of days dealers have cars in inventory before selling them, continues to rise for Fiat.

But thanks to the U.S. visit of Pope Francis, Fiat sales in the U.S. have more than tripled in just the last two days.  This, after Catholic car buyers watched media coverage of the Pontiff’s activities in Washington, D.C., during which he has been transported from the airport to The White House to the U.S. Capitol and other venues  in a tiny Fiat instead of the usual Cadillac limousines afforded visiting dignitaries.

Even in the Vatican, the Pope has traded his limousine and Popemobile in favor of a used Fiat.

Since becoming pope, Francis has led an uncomplicated life, rejecting the pompous and ostentatious ways of The Vatican. From shoes to garments, from living quarters to automobiles, he has chosen the way of simplicity and poverty.

Will this signal the end of Volkswagen’s and Toyota’s world dominance in automaking?

 

 

LENSCRAFTERS UNVEILS NEW CONSERVATIVE EYE GLASSES

imageMASON, Ohio (The Adobo Chronicles® ) – Many who are vision-impaired have long benefited from progressive lenses which enable them to wear a single pair of eyeglasses for both distance and reading prescriptions.

Those who can’t wear progressives have long clamored for a product that would cater to their particular situation.

Finally, LensCrafters is unveiling a new kind of lenses for conservative eyeglass wearers. The new technology will help people with conservative views and ideology to see things from different perspectives — from moderate to liberal.

The new lens will be available at LensCrafters stores nationwide beginning in mid-winter, 2016, just in time for the U.S. presidential primaries.

AS VOLKSWAGEN BOWS OUT OF PHILIPPINES, ADOBO CHRONICLES INUNDATED WITH OFFERS FOR ITS COMPANY CAR

imageMANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles® ) – Volkswagen is bowing out from the Philippine government’s Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) Program, saying the program is preferential to existing auto players, and the production hurdle therein is too high.

The move has effectively cost the Philippines $200 million in investments that Volkswagen Philippines has been willing to infuse in its manufacturing operations. After much speculation as being the third carmaker vying for a spot in the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) CARS Program, the German firm dispelled the rumors and effectively ended all speculation.

“The program is favorable to incumbents. It’s not attractive to new entrants,” John Philip S. Orbeta, chairman and president of Volkswagen, told reporters on Friday.

The 200,000-unit production hurdle was the main deterrent hindering the world’s largest automaker from participating in the program, as it dictates the volume to be reached in a span of six years—a herculean task for a new entrant.

Unlike existing car firms that have already reached the scale in sales and production to qualify for the program and are in a better position to hit the 33,000-unit-a-year requirement, Volkswagen will have to start from scratch.

Following the announcement from the German automaker, The Adobo Chronicles® has received hundreds of offers from Filipino millionaires who wanted to purchase its company car, a 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan.

“It will be such a great prestige to own a Volkswagen considering that locally-manufactured units will not be available at all because of the car manufacturer’s withdrawal from the Philippines,” one potential buyer said.

Although the Tiguan was assembled in the United States, it has the mark of the Philippines because of its unique license plate, MYADOBO.

The Adobo Chronicles® has not decided if it wants to sell its company car.