Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) finally took the first step into the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) Program, as it presented the very first locally assembled Mirage G4 to President Rodrigo Duterte yesterday, February 27, 2017, in a ceremony held at Malacañan Palace.
Heading the presentation were Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) President, CEO, Mr. Osamu Masuko, Sojitz Corporation Vice Chairman Mr. Shigeki Dantani, and MMPC President and CEO Mr. Yoshiaki Kato. Also on hand to witness the historic turnover were top-ranking officials from Mitsubishi and the government, as well as the diplomatic corps. These include honorable Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon M. Lopez, Department of Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III, DTI Undersecretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo, DTI Assistant Secretary Rafaelita M. Aldaba, Philippine Economic Zone Authority Director General Charito B. Plaza, CARS Program Director, Romulo Manlapig, and Deputy Chief of Mission of Japan Embassy, Atsushi Ueno.
Under the CARS Program, manufacturers such as MMPC were granted the opportunity to produce locally-made units of some of their vehicles. MMPC, for its part, will be putting together its global small cars, the Mirage G4 and Mirage hatchback at its Santa Rosa, Laguna plant, beginning this May. MMPC hopes to roll out around 20,000 Mirage G4s and Mirage hatchback by the end of the year.
As if this isn’t significant enough, the CARS Program will likewise benefit local parts suppliers by offering them new opportunities to put forth their wares to supply the needs of Mitsubishi and other manufacturers who would need a large amount of local content to comply with requirements. This would also mean the creation of additional jobs for both MMP\C and its supplier partners. Moreover, MMPC and its parts suppliers can also benefit from technology transfer from their respective foreign counterparts.
As Mitsubishi beefs up its Santa Rosa plant for local production, its new stamping plant will begin operations in January of 2018. This is expected to further boost local content and increase overall production by up to 50 percent. Mitsubishi Motors Corporation has already invested around P4.3 billion in production facilities and equipment. This signifies its commitment to the local economy and to the country, seeing the Philippines as an important market.
The localization of the Mitsubishi Mirage G4 and Mirage hatchback under the CARS Program would make it more competitive in terms of price, allowing more people to afford a quality vehicle. And as MMPC begins a new chapter in its historic and long-standing relationship with the Philippines, it assures everyone that it will continue to maintain the world-class quality of the Mirage and Mirage G4, whether it is assembled in Laguna or anywhere else in the world.
