Made in the Philippines: Mitsubishi eyes local hybrid car production

The Philippines is about to hit a significant milestone in its automotive history. Mitsubishi Motors Corporation has announced plans to set up a dedicated hybrid electric vehicle production line at its existing facility in Santa Rosa City, Laguna, which would make the country the first in the region to locally manufacture HEVs under the Japanese automaker's banner.

MMC global CEO Takao Kato brought the news directly to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Finance Secretary Frederick Go during a sit-down at Malacañang last Monday. The meeting was taken as a strong signal that foreign investors are still bullish on the Philippine economy.

Finance Secretary Go was candid about what the announcement means for the country. "This is a landmark investment that will redefine the future of our automotive industry," he said, adding that the prospect of the Philippines becoming a hybrid car exporter is something worth getting excited about.

The initiative will be carried out through Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. and is aimed at deepening local manufacturing capabilities while aligning with the government's broader push for cleaner transport solutions. Local HEV production is also seen as a practical step toward reducing the country's dependence on imported fuel and cutting down on urban emissions, consistent with the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act.

Beyond domestic supply, MMC is reportedly studying whether its Laguna plant could serve as an export hub for hybrid vehicles across the region. If that pushes through, the Philippines could find itself playing a much bigger role in Southeast Asia's next-generation automotive supply chain. Right now, Mitsubishi’s Philippine plant produces three key models, the Mirage, Mirage G4, and L300.

The President acknowledged the development on social media, framing it around jobs, fuel savings, and wider vehicle choices for Filipino consumers. "Their continued investment reflects strong confidence in our economy," he posted.

On the policy side, the Board of Investments is still working on the Electric Vehicle Incentives Strategy program, which is designed to pull in more players to the local EV and hybrid sector. The program is pending approval from the Fiscal Incentives Review Board and the President before it can take effect.

With any hope, this development will mean a revitalization of the Philippine industry as well as more affordable HEVs from Mitsubishi.