India auto giant plans local assembly

MANILA, Philippines - Tata Motors Ltd., India’s biggest manufacturer of commercial vehicles, is planning to establish assembly operations in the Philippines over the near term, setting aside at least $8 million for the venture.

Jon Fernandez, president of Tata Motors’ exclusive Philippine distributor Pilipinas Taj Autogroup, said local assembly is the direction where the company is headed to over the next two to three years.

“We will first study the volume in the domestic market and then probably two to three years before we start assembly,” he said Fernandez.

Fernandez said the company has started scouting possible locations for the assembly facility.

He said a possible model to be assembled is a vehicle to be enrolled in the government’s jeepney modernization program.

“For the jeepney modernization, those who are willing to join will have to present their prototypes by September. We are planning to present at least two types of jeepney-type vehicles using several types of our models that are available in the country,” Fernandez said.