MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday bared the plan to buy Mini Cruiser autos manufactured by Japanese carmaker Toyota Motor Corporation for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
At the identical time, the Japanese officers stated they intend to reintroduce the Asian utility car Tamaraw mannequin, which dominated the Philippine market because the “people’s car” from the late Nineteen Seventies to early 2000.
Marcos’ pronouncement occurred in a gathering with prime Toyota executives in Tokyo as he lamented that the AFP used utility autos through the years however didn’t get good outcomes.
“It (acquisition of Toyota Mini Cruiser) is something we would like to revisit simply because we have tried many utility vehicles for the military but they really [have] not been a success for us,” Marcos advised the Toyota officers.
Delta Motor Corporation, which ceased operations in 1984, partnered with Toyota and launched autos such because the Tamaraw and the Mini Cruiser for navy use.
Marcos welcomed the concept of the comeback of the Tamaraw, which he stated has been a “dependable utility transport for many years for Filipinos.”
Tamaraw means water buffalo within the Philippines.
“Many of the Tamaraws you’ve recently built are still on the road,” Marcos advised the Japanese officers, who described the Tamaraw as the corporate’s workhorse.
“It is very interesting to hear your new plans for the Philippines and it’s very much in alignment with what we’re trying to do… We are hoping we are able to improve the situation for your supplier to be able to come in to the ease of doing business,” Marcos added.
Since the Tamaraw mannequin dominated the Philippine marketplace for a long time, Marcos stated its use isn’t new to potential Filipino and even Asian shoppers.
“We have always been appreciative especially in the involvement of Toyota in the Philippines over so many years and I think the mutual experience between Toyota and the Philippine and the local markets has been a good one and the partnership we can look to as a success,” Marcos identified.
Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy
In one other assembly with officers of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, Marcos famous that the proposed extension of the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) program remains to be below evaluate.
Mitsubishi and Toyota certified for fiscal incentives below the CARS program which was signed in 2015 however lapsed in 2021.
Under the CARS program, collaborating carmakers are given six years to adjust to the minimal quantity goal gross sales of 200,000 items every for his or her enrolled automotive fashions with the intention to get incentives.
The Philippine authorities allotted PHP27 billion for fiscal incentives below this system.
While the present administration remains to be intently learning the proposal to increase the CARS program, it’s “very much of the mind that we have to encourage this investment because it is an industrial and high-end manufacturing operation,” Marcos stated.
“It is something that would be important to the Philippines because we are trying to encourage now… both for local businesses and businesses from other countries and businesses from Japan,” he stated. “We are trying to encourage this capital investment to improve the share of manufacturing contribution to the GDP (gross domestic product).”
Marcos floated the potential for extending this system, in a bid to “balance the economy.”
“Right now, services is a large majority of the contribution to GDP, which is all right, and we want to keep that going. But we want to balance the contribution from different sectors of the economy,” he stated. (PNA)