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UV Express is a license to operate utility vehicles, particularly vans, as an alternative mode of public transportation in the Philippines. The term also refers to the vehicles themselves.
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History
In 1993, Toyota Motor Company in the Philippines introduced the third generation Tamaraw FX. This vehicle was designed and marketed as a smaller type of utility vehicle (as compared to the larger utility vehicles in countries like the United States). The Tamaraw FX could basically seat a driver and one passenger in front, three passengers in the second row, with a relatively large space left for luggage. This luggage space, however, has traditionally been used by operators to provide additional seating space, producing a rather limited legroom. This vehicle, as well as comparable offerings from other automobile manufacturers such as Mitsubishi with its Adventure and Isuzu Motors with its Hi-Lander (later Crosswind), would eventually be used as a form of public transport, colloquially referred to as the "FX".
Overtime, the FX has been replaced by larger vehicles such as the Nissan Urvan and Toyota HiAce. With these new vehicles, the luggage space has been fully removed to add seating space, with the same limited legroom as the first ones, which has been a cause for complaints of overloading.
Company and Routes
UV Express follows the franchisee model and has more than 120 services in the Philippines including the (National Capital region). The country's Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board serves as the owner of the franchise.
UV Express vans are air conditioned, usually seat 14 passengers and charge 2 Philippine pesos per kilometer (as of 2013). In Metro Manila they have their own passenger terminals in Manila, Makati (Ayala Center), Pasig (SM Megamall), Mandaluyong (Starmall), Cubao, North Avenue, Centris Station, and in similarly busy locations.
The name UV stands for "Utility Vehicle". It is also a pun for Uwi na (Tagalog : Let us go home)