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Photos by Pat Mateo

To say that Rene Nuñez loves cars is an understatement. With a collection of over 50 vehicles – over 75% of which bear the three-pointed star — his love for everything automotive makes him the best man to look after CATS and their equally car-loving clientele.

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How long have you been in the auto industry?

RN: Officially just 8 months when I assumed the Presidency of CATS Motors.  But we can say from 2012, when I invested in Autosport, a body & paint and detailing shop in Makati.

Did you always want to be part of this industry?
RN: Yes, but I was discouraged by my parents when I finished school since the industry was in but of a slump then.

What did you study, and did it influence your entry into the auto industry?
RN: I finished Industrial Management Engineering minor in Mechanical Engineering at De La Salle. It actually did not need influence, I was crazy about cars since I was about 2 years old. But my course has helped me deal with challenges in my professional career.

What were you doing before joining the industry?
RN: I was a banker for the first 10 years and was the COO of a subsidiary of a listed gaming company for the last 15 years.

What were your previous positions (even outside CATS)?
RN: My last stint was being the COO of Midas Hotel & Casino, prior to that I established and ran First Cagayan Leisure with Albee Benitez.

What attracted you to CATS?
RN: My would be partner Felix Ang who has been a good friend for about two decades and of course all the car brands he carried.

We hear you like Benzes and have a modest collection. Would you care to tell our readers which ones you like most and why?
RN: The top 3 are: CLK Black Series–Best Drivers Car in my book since 2008. 300SEL 6.3– I love fast sedans and this is the granddad. 280 SEb Low Hood Cabriolet– The last hand built Mercedes Benz built on my birth year.

Apart from an alarm clock and the scent of fresh coffee, what inspires Rene Nuñez to wake up each morning?
RN: It inspires me to think that there are things I need to fix in the office, whether it be making things more systematic or how the showroom display will be arranged. Actually even going to the workshop and checking on our technicians makes me excited to work every day.

What about CATS’ other brands? Will developing Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep potentially make these brands competitors of their Mercedes-Benz counterparts? Why or why not?
RN: I don’t think so. Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge are actually the first steps on the luxury ladder. People just actually need to drive these cars to realize that these brands benefited a lot from the Mercedes Benz-Chrysler merger.

Your thoughts on the state of the Philippine auto industry?
RN: Booming!!! From a car enthusiast who remembers that the only new car he can buy when he got his driver’s license was a Mitsubishi Lancer Box Type or a Nissan Stanza.