MANILA — Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) announced plans on Monday, April 6 to establish a dedicated hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) manufacturing capability at its existing plant in Santa Rosa, Laguna, marking a significant step toward the localization of advanced automotive production in the country.
The strategic development was confirmed during a meeting between MMC President and Chief Executive Officer Takao Kato, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., and Finance Secretary Frederick Go at the Malacañan Palace today. The high-level meeting underscored the Japanese automaker’s sustained confidence in the Philippine economy and its commitment to higher-value manufacturing.
“This is a landmark investment that will redefine the future of our automotive industry. And the even more exciting possibility is that we could be an exporter of hybrid cars,” said Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go.
Beyond serving the domestic market, MMC is exploring the possibility of exporting the hybrid vehicles produced at the Laguna facility, operated by Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC).
The local production of HEVs is expected to advance the country’s environmental and economic goals by reducing reliance on imported oil and curbing urban emissions. The initiative closely aligns with the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA), positioning the Philippines for a smooth transition to full electrification as global battery costs decrease and local renewable energy capacity expands.
Officials noted that the manufacturing investment arrives at a crucial time, offering a buffer against global economic uncertainties by generating new job opportunities for Filipinos and steering the industrial sector toward a sustainable, technology-driven future.
To support the momentum of the automotive transition, the Board of Investments is currently finalizing the Electric Vehicle Incentives Strategy (EVIS) program. The comprehensive initiative will soon be endorsed to the Fiscal Incentives Review Board (FIRB) for the President’s final approval, aiming to accelerate foreign investments and reinforce the Philippines’ emerging role as a regional hub for electric vehicle manufacturing.|
