DTI: Toyota Tamaraw resurrected for PH supports expansion of local auto sector

MANILA: Alfredo Pascual, Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), has welcomed Toyota's declaration that it will resume Tamaraw utility vehicle manufacture in the Philippines.

In an interview with a local radio-television network on Tuesday, Pascual claimed that the restoration of Toyota Tamaraw production in the nation will boost domestic production of cars and car parts as well as promote the industry's expansion as it recovers from the epidemic.

Atsuhiro Okamoto, president of Toyota Motors Philippines (TMP), announced the company's P4.4 billion investment during President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s recent official business visit to Japan. This investment includes bringing back the Tamaraw local assembly.

The P4.4 billion investments, according to TMP Vice President Rommel Gutierrez, will go toward localizing parts and supporting car manufacture. Pascual stated that TMP will produce the cab and chassis in addition to assembling the Tamaraw and selling them to different vehicle body makers.

“Kagandahan nito, pwede silang magbenta ng cab lang at chassis. ‘Yong mga Philippine companies na nagbubuo, ‘yong mga gumagawa ay mabubuhay ulit (The fact that they can only sell the cab and chassis is advantageous. The Philippine businesses engaged in the assembly of vehicles would be revitalized.),” he said.

Benefits of Toyota Tamaraw assembly in the Philippines

The project would assist Toyota's mobility solutions, which were introduced last year, the trade head stated. Additionally, Gutierrez stated that the new generation Tamaraw, the first Asian utility vehicle released in the 1970s, will be TMP's Toyota Mobility Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV).

“There is a rising demand for LCVs and TMP sees this as an opportunity to provide a more suitable and affordable option for Filipino entrepreneurs. Localization of the model will also allow TMP to respond to the specific conversion requirements/specialized needs of Philippine customers,” he said.

In particular, given the end of local production by other original equipment manufacturers, he continued, the introduction of the Toyota Mobility LCV will aid in maintaining local automotive manufacturing.

Possible specification of Toyota Tamaraw in the Philippines

According to Toyota Motor Philippines President Atsuhiro Okamoto in an interview with the Manila Bulletin —the new Tamaraw would still feature a diesel engine but will be cleaner.

“We were committed to invest P4.4 billion for light commercial vehicles — LCV, that’s called in Toyota IMV 0 Project. It’s the new generation Tamaraw project; we will enter this in the IMV 0 in the near future,” Okamoto was quoted as saying in the report.

“Basically FR, but the same as the current Hilux, basically the same structure. Cleaner engine, clean diesel,” the TMP leadership added.

Photos from Toyota Motor Philippines, Toyota Thailand

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