The Philippines will emerge as the hub of electric vehicle parts manufacturing in the region, once the government’s electric tricycle program becomes successful, two industry associations said Wednesday.
The Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturers Association of the Philippines and the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines said the ailing vehicle parts industry would be revitalized with the expected influx of local and foreign investments in the e-trike program.
MVPMAP groups 125 local auto parts makers while the newly-organized EVAP is composed of 27 EV manufacturers, assemblers, importers, dealers, members of the academe and enthusiasts.
MVPMAP president Ferdi Raquelsantos said in a statement the two groups were fully supportive of the e-trike program of the Energy Department and the Asian Development Bank.
The e-trike program plans to replace 100,000 conventional tricycles with electric tricycles over the next four years.
“With most of our members operating at below 50 percent of their rated plant capacity, this program will provide incremental income and employment to our members,” Raquelsantos said.
He said around 50,000 employees were dependent on the local parts making industry.
“Considering that more than 25 percent of our labor force is not fully utilized with 9.8 percent of them unemployed and another 19.2 percent of them underemployed, this e-trike program will help us and our employees get back on our feet,” he added.
Raquelsantos said the e-trike project had already caught the attention of foreign investors, judging from their interest in the recent 2012 Electric Vehicle Summit.-Manila Standard Today (June 28, 2012)
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