Filipino-made electric tricycles to spearhead local EV production

The Philippine government continues to push for locally manufactured electric vehicles. In a report by the Philippine News Agency, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the initiative’s immediate goal is to produce an “all-Filipino electric tricycle” before expanding into electric jeepneys.

In a visit to automotive parts manufacturer MD Juan Enterprises in Caloocan, the President assessed the existing facilities to determine the additional support and equipment needed to push for local e-trike manufacturing. Currently, MD Juan Enterprises manufactures parts and kits for vintage, military, and civilian jeepneys. It is also a beneficiary of the Department of Science and Technology’s e-mobility program.

“Kaya tinitingnan namin ang mga facilities,” said Marcos. “Ano yung nandito na, ano na yung mga kulang, ano pa yung mga kulang na susuportahan ng ating DOST, ng national government para makapagawa na tayo ng electric vehicle dito sa Pilipinas.”

The President also said developing the domestic EV manufacturing industry could help reduce the country’s reliance on imported fuel while supporting a more stable transport sector, adding that the industry could also help provide sustainable livelihood opportunities for transport workers.

No timeline has been announced as of writing, but Marcos said that the next step is to provide the necessary equipment needed for EV manufacturing. As the government continues to promote electric mobility to modernize public transportation, we’ll look forward to Filipino-made electric tricycles kicking things off in the near future.