There’s no denying that the Xpander is one of those Mitsubishi vehicles that appeals the most to a lot of car buyers. This statement isn’t exclusively true in the Philippines; in fact, Mitsubishi Motors announced that it will increase its production capacity in its Indonesian plant due to the strong demand for the Xpander across the ASEAN market.
The Mitsubishi plant in Bekasi, Indonesia currently has the capacity to make 160,000 units until 2020. However, the Japanese automaker reckons that this figure isn’t enough, which then forced it to increase the number to 220,000 units in order to supply the orders from Indonesia and neighboring markets, including the Philippines. This expansion will see an extra 800 people employed at the said plant, totaling to 4,100 employees. It will also cost the automaker around 4-billion yen to fund the investment.
The production of the Xpander alone will increase from 115,000 units to 160,000 units by fiscal year 2020. Out of these numbers, 50,000 units will be exported to the rest of the ASEAN countries.
Aside from the increased capacity in the Bekasi plant, the Xpander’s engine will be produced in Nissan Motor Indonesia (NMI), a local production subsidiary of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. This will increase the production ratio of localized parts to 80%, which has a huge benefit to the local supply chain. This expansion will also mean 160,000 units of Xpander engines will be made annually.
Indonesians have been really fond of the Xpander MPV. Since its launch last year, it has accumulated 100,000 orders from the country alone by the end of September 2018. Aside from being no. 1 in Indonesia’s sales volume in the month of March and July 2018, the Xpander has been hailed as the Car of the Year 2018 of the OTOMOTIF newspaper in March, and FORWOT Car of the Year 2018 of the Automotive Journalist Forum in September.
We have yet to see its actual volume number in the Philippines, but considering its popularity across various types of media, it wouldn’t be surprising if it would be one of the best-sellers in the country for 2018.
Latest News
-
BAIC Philippines gains ground in 2026 as electrified vehicle demand and buyer confidence surge / News
BAIC posts 10 percent sales growth in early 2026, led by surging demand for its electrified SUV models among Filipino buyers.
-
HMPH, Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, and Good Neighbors International Philippines unite for reforestation and community empowerment / News
Hyundai Motor Philippines teams up with RAFI and Good Neighbors to plant 3,000 native trees in Lian, Batangas.
-
ACMobility partners with ACEN RES to bring green energy and EV charging bundle to retail customers / News
ACMobility and ACEN RES are rolling out an integrated renewable energy and EV charging bundle for local businesses.
Popular Articles
-
Electric Vehicles in the Philippines for under P1 million
Jerome Tresvalles · Aug 19, 2025
-
VinFast: Are battery subscriptions the way forward?
Jerome Tresvalles · Nov 06, 2024
-
5 Tips to Maximize Fuel Efficiency
Jerome Tresvalles · Sep 09, 2024
-
Five driving habits that are draining your fuel tank
Jerome Tresvalles · Jun 24, 2025
-
2026 Changan Lumin Review
Jerome Tresvalles · Feb 05, 2026
-
Do electric cars even need maintenance?
Jerome Tresvalles · Oct 23, 2024
-
2025 JAECOO EJ-6 EV Review
Jerome Tresvalles · Oct 02, 2025
-
MG EVs: Electric performance without the luxury price tag
Shaynah Miranda · Jan 14, 2025
-
8 reasons the VinFast VF3 should be your first car
Dec 30, 2024
-
Hybrids explained: What’s the difference between mild, full, and plug-in hybrid cars?
Shaynah Miranda · Oct 15, 2024