Mitsubishi Motors wants to build a new model in PH
The Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) has expressed its intent to boost its manufacturing presence in the Philippines with a Php 7-billion investment plan for the next five years.
This was discussed in a recent courtesy call made by MMC President and CEO Takao Kato to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. held in the Malacañang Palace.
Kato said that MMC plans to expand with the production of a new production model at the Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) manufacturing plant in Santa Rosa, Laguna. He also mentioned that the Philippines is MMC’s most important investment in Southeast Asia as it is also their number one market in the region with 89,124 units sold in 2024.
As to what model exactly the Japanese automaker plans to produce, we do not know yet. We’re thinking the Mitsubishi Xpander as the seven-seater MPV is the fourth best-selling vehicle model in the market. Another possibility would be the production version of the Mitsubishi DST Concept which was unveiled at last year’s Philippine International Motor Show, and is designed with the ASEAN market in mind.
Presdient Marcos said that MMC will be included in the government’s Revitalizing the Automotive Industry for Competitiveness Enhancement (RACE) Program, which is proposed to replace the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) Program.
Under the CARS Program, MMPC’s Santa Rosa, Laguna facility currently builds the Mirage G4 subcompact sedan and L300 light commercial vehicle, both among the top-selling vehicles in the market for 2024. The facility has a 50,000-unit annual production capacity with the capability to be expanded to 100,000 units per year.
