Local automotive manufacturing is getting another huge boost, as Mitsubishi Motors has confirmed its intention to participate in the Philippine government’s Electric Vehicle Incentive Strategy (EVIS) program. This was announced following a meeting between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. himself and Mitsubishi Motors CEO Takao Kato.
The EVIS program is one backed by the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act. It is currently under development and could be similar to the existing Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) and Revitalizing the Automotive Industry for Competitiveness Enhancement (RACE) programs, both of which are currently facing challenges after fiscal support was vetoed by Marcos.
“The Philippines has long been one of our most important markets, where we have engaged in production and sales for many years,” said Kato. “In cooperation with the Philippine government, we are honored to contribute to the advancement of vehicle electrification and industrial development through the EVIS program, as well as to support the further growth of the Philippine economy.”
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In line with this, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines will be lining up to build a new hybrid electric vehicle at its manufacturing plant in Santa Rosa, Laguna. If Mitsubishi’s application to join EVIS will be approved, production of said HEV could be “around the middle of calendar year 2028.”
To say this is big news would be an understatement, as currently, Mitsubishi has no hybrid in its lineup apart from the Outlander PHEV. In other markets, meanwhile, electrified versions of the XForce and the Xpander are already available.
At the moment, the Mirage G4 and the L300 are both built in the Philippines. Mitsubishi hasn’t detailed if the ‘new’ hybrid model to be manufactured under EVIS will simply be a new car for the production line or be an entirely new nameplate for the brand. The specific guidelines for EVIS haven’t been laid down, either, so we all still have a lot of questions regarding these. Rest assured, we’ll be waiting for further updates, so stay tuned.
