DTI positions Philippines as EV assembly hub

CEBU, Philippines —  The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is looking at pushing the Philippines as an attractive hub for electric vehicle (EV) assembly, if not a leader, in the regional eMobility space.

This will provide some opportunities for the country to enter the EC global value chain, said Ma. Corazon Halili-Dichosa, Executive Director of Industry Development Services of the DTI Board of Investments.

Dichosa cited a World Bank study showing that the country has a couple of building blocks to support a competitive industry.

In transitioning to EVs, Dichosa said the government is working to create a conducive ecosystem composed of regulations, information, education, communication, human resource development, research and development, and industry-support programs.

She said BOI is working for the immediate passage of the EV bill that will provide the framework for the industry.  It covers fiscal support, non-fiscal incentives that will promote the use and manufacturing of EVs in the country, and the establishment of key support infrastructure.

“We in BOI and DTI will continue to work hard to create opportunities for local companies to increasingly participate in global value chains and develop more competencies as we shift and join the global automotive industry towards collected, autonomous, shared, and electrified technologies,” she said.

Dischosa made this statement during the recently held webinar dubbed “Mobility: Building an E-vehicle Ecosystem” co-presented by Dassault Systèmes in partnership with the League of Cities of the Philippines and Globe, with support from the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the Philippines.

According to Arthur Tan, CEO of AC Industrials, most EV components, especially the critical ones, are already being manufactured in the Philippines.

This proves the competitiveness of local manufacturers and their potential in the eMobility ecosystem.

“What we're trying to do is to bring forth here in the Philippines at least the capability and the technology.  If we decide as a country that this is really something that we want to be part of, lead, and even leapfrog, this new field is happening in the mobility space.  We have the ability to start touching on vehicle manufacturing, the retail and after-sales services as a complete vertical for the whole ecosystem,” Tan said.

Tan’s view was echoed by Freddie Tinga, CEO of Global Electric Transport (GET).  GET produces EVs for public and private use and looks at the whole ecosystem to create a sustainable and smart transport solution that can be replicated in big cities abroad with similar traffic conditions to Metro Manila.

“This is an exciting time for us. We feel we have a global solution that we're polishing here in the Philippines. And it's a solution that will be able to transform a lot of urban environments all over the world,” he noted adding that its  high time for the Philippines to be pioneer in this space, “all the assets are there, all the excitement is there, and I think the opportunity is there for us as well.”