RP woos DaimlerChrysler to put up mfg facility here

The Philippines is hoping to attract DaimlerChrysler, which manufactures the luxury car brands Mercedes-Benz and Maybach as well as the more moderately-priced Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge brands, to consider the country as a possible manufacturing site in the ASEAN region.

Trade and Industry Secretary Cesar V. Purisima said the Philippines, along with six other ASEAN countries, was recently invited to attend an ASEAN Automotive Expert Council meeting in Malaysia by DaimlerChrysler.

The seven ASEAN countries, Purisima said, all made their respective presentations during the ASEAN Automotive Expert Council meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

However, Purisima stressed, "no decisions were made" especially since the main purpose of the meeting was to talk about the auto industry and "establish better links."

The meeting in Malaysia, Purisima said, allowed DaimlerChrysler’s management team to meet with the different ASEAN economic representatives to talk about the ASEAN and global auto industry.

There was also an opportunity to discuss the pros and cons of each country.

With the operationalization of ASEAN Free Trade Area, there is now a bigger market for interested foreign manufacturers.

In the Asia-Pacific region, Mercedes-Benz sales climbed five percent in the first two months of this year, setting a new record with sales of 14,000 passenger cars.