Jeepney

Jeepneys were originally minibuses with up to 14 seats converted Willys jeeps left behind by the Americans after their withdrawal from the Philippines. They are now in the Philippines, with greater capacity, recreated. Jeepneys with their individual, usually colorful painting regarded as a typical Philippine transportation. Lately, the jeepneys are strongly been criticized mainly because of their exhaust and the often poor technical condition.

History

When the U.S. forces left the Philippines after the end of World War II by little, they gave their now superfluous military jeeps from the local population. This built the jeeps by means of railroad tracks so to that with the jeepneys as incurred more passengers could be transported.

In addition, the jeepneys got a metal roof, which provides shade. At the same time they were often artistically painted and decorated (especially with religious motifs ) and with shiny bonnets and wheel arches fitted chrome.

As inexpensive transportation enjoyed the jeepneys growing in popularity. They replaced the local public transport, which did not exist after the end of World War II. In order to curb the unchecked growth during the last decades, the government restricted the registration of vehicles. Among other things, the driver must have a special license category "Professional Driver 's License " have, leave a regular route and charge reasonable fares. In addition, the owners need on a certain day, which can be seen on the color of the indicator, park your vehicle in a designated garage.

The general rule in the Philippines:

• Green label: Exclusively privately used vehicle
• Yellow Plate ( buses, jeepneys, vans, motorcycles, tricycles ): Approved for transportation of persons, often as taxi in use

Today's jeepneys are professionally manufactured in Philippine plants. The ornaments are often supplemented by comic motifs. The best known of the works is Double AA. It was founded in 1998 and is owned by Aristo Hernandez.

Etymology

Jeepney came about when the words of the jeep and jitney, a kind of minibus or taxi in some countries.

Types and manufacturers

Owner jeeps, the smaller version of jeepneys for 4-6 passengers to (mostly ) private use are assembled by the owners mainly of items themselves. For this, there are dealers in all major cities (usually stainless steel) offer the prefabricated parts such as the body and frame.

The other parts ( engine, axles, brakes, etc. ) can be purchased in used parts - actions ( " Surplus Stores " ) or dismantled by battle vehicles. The adaptation of non- matching parts takes place in special " Machine Shops " ( workshops), where all the parts are changed on request and provided with other tolerances and threads. These vehicles are partly enhanced (6-10 pieces) in very complex manual work with real wood dashboards, stereo equipment with a variety of speakers and a battery of auxiliary lights.

In the central Philippines Islands and Japanese vehicles to jeepneys to be rebuilt for a long time. Here also diesel engines are increasingly in use.

Currently, there are two classes of jeepney builders - in the Philippines. The " backyard wrench " build one to five vehicles in the month, get their material from a wreck of the established manufacturers and work with used engines and chassis from the junkyard, usually with the diesel engine series 4BA of Isuzu C240 or the Mitsubishi Fuso 4D30 engines, a further development of earlier jeep drives.

The second type providers are the volume manufacturers. There are two sub groups: the PUJ ( bus - jeepney -Bauer ), and the companies that press sheet metal components on a large scale and also build complete vehicles.

The jeepney companies were formerly mostly concentrated around Cebu City, Las Pinas and Cavite, due to the decline in sales, however, many small businesses are gone out of business. The largest manufacturer of intrinsically produced jeeps in the Philippines is David Motors Inc. in Quezon City, on the north side of the conurbation Metro Manila. The largest manufacturer of jeeps in vintage style is MD Juan.

Passenger jeepneys are facing increasing restrictions and regulations to protect the environment because they pollute the streets and consume a lot of fuel. A study published in a newspaper of Metro Manila study suggests that a 16- seater jeepney similar to consume a lot of fuel as a 54 -seater bus with air conditioning. Because the major roads are clogged with jeepneys, driving around looking for passengers, there is increasing pressure to remove them from the streets of Manila and other cities.

The cost for a new jeepney rise due to the increase in material prices for steel and the need for new engines. The support for the repair of older engines is slowly disappearing.

The jeepney business in the Philippines is fighting with imported used cars. Many manufacturers pivot on modern-looking jeepneys with a "Hummer" - or Toyota front around. The jeepney industry has changed rapidly in the past two years than in the 50 previous years.

Other manufacturers are

• Mega (which also produce the Lanceta line of jeepneys in Lipa City )
• Malaguena (whose factory in Cavite one of the first outer holding in the movie " The Amazing Race" was)
• LGS Motors,
• Sarao ( which is the most famous factory and located in Las Pinas ), and
• Armak (one of the largest),

This vehicle category is understood lately in decline since Used vehicles are cheaper in neighboring countries. However, jeepneys can be kept under the old design and the separate chassis very easily repaired and use a very long time.