Mitsubishi Philippines to begin exporting L300, Mirage this Year

MANILA: The Mitsubishi Motors Philippines (MMP) is all set to become the country’s first car exporter in many years. President of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC), Osamu Masuko and senior officials of the country’s department of trade and industry (DTI), led by trade secretary Ramon Lopez, is learned to have held a series of fruitful talks in this regard. The DTI, in December last year, had requested the Tokyo headquartered automobile major to export Mitsubishi cars produced in the Philippines.

MMP is likely to begin exporting cars to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) soon.

Lopez, in a statement, said that the export of Mitsubishi cars would help convert the Philippines into a global production hub for cars once again.  

The DTI revealed that Masuko has already informed MMP officials to ramp up the production of the Mirage G4 sedan, the Mirage standard hatchback, and the L300 for exports to the ASEAN member countries. That aside, Masuko expressed interest to help develop the local Philippine electric vehicle industry, DTI said in its statement.

Masuko, on his part, said that MMP is planning to begin exporting the cars from this year.

According to Lopez, MMC already has a presence in countries like Indonesia and Thailand, and the company is planning to convert some countries to a production hub for some specific models. This, he said, will serve both the respective domestic and export markets of those countries.

Both the Mirage models are currently made under the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) programme, inked between MMP and the Philippine government. The programme is a protection policy for Philippine automobile parts manufacturers which ensures that cars produced in the country have significant components supplied by local firms.

Mitsubishi, with partners Renault and Nissan, have been heavily investing in the Philippines for some years now. Earlier, in July last year, the three automakers opened a joint staff center at the MMP facility in Santa Rosa which will train 200 Mitsubishi and Nissan personnel each day for advanced customer service. Training on vehicle repairing and servicing will also be provided.

Lopez said that besides allowing local manufacturers to exploit a larger global market, the exports of Mitsubishi cars would narrow down the country’s trade deficit.