MG Philippines formalizes EV Disposal partnership with En Tsumugi

MG Motor Philippines has officially signed a partnership agreement with En Tsumugi ELV Dismantling Corporation to handle the safe and environmentally compliant disposal of electric vehicle units caught in a fire incident back on April 6, 2025 in Batangas. 

That incident, if you may recall, put 200 cars out of commission. Among those 200 were 25 brand new MG hybrids and electric vehicles (EVs). While the unfortunate incident brought an end to those 25 cars, it did serve to show how tough MG’s electrified vehicles were as its lithium-ion batteries did not ignite; a testament to the quality of MG’s battery tech. 

After the flames were dealt with, it did leave MG with 25 damaged hybrids and EVs. Because these cars are equipped with batteries, it can’t be disposed of the same way as traditional gas-powered cars, hence MG’s deal with En Tsumugi.

The deal, formalized earlier this month, ensures both organizations are committed in making sure those affected EVs, particularly their high-voltage battery packs, are dismantled and processed the right way. HV batteries are notoriously tricky to deal with after a fire; they require specialized handling that most conventional facilities simply aren't equipped for.

En Tsumugi operates out of Mexico, Pampanga, and holds the distinction of being the Philippines' first model End-of-Life Vehicle dismantling facility. That alone makes this collaboration noteworthy, but what really stands out is the context: this is the first time in the local auto industry that a formal disposal and dismantling process has been put in place specifically for fire-affected EV units. That's a gap that's been sitting there for a while, and it's good to see it being addressed with an actual framework rather than an improvised solution.

En Tsumugi's CFO and Marketing Director John Hung echoed that sentiment from the facility side. "As vehicle technologies evolve, proper recovery and treatment standards must evolve as well," he noted, adding that the company is committed to aligning its processes with emerging global environmental practices.

From a broader industry standpoint, this kind of agreement matters. The EV market in the Philippines is still finding its footing, and incidents like fires, however rare, raise legitimate questions about what happens next, both for the vehicles themselves and for the people living near disposal sites. Having a certified, regulated facility handling the aftermath is a step in the right direction.

For MG Philippines, the move also reinforces its corporate social responsibility commitments, positioning the brand as one that doesn't just sell electrified vehicles but also takes ownership of what happens when things go wrong.