The revival of the most popular utility vehicle model -Tamaraw- in the Philippines by Toyota Motors is expected to spur various industry opportunities, as the new-generation Tamaraw will offer flexibility and linkages with local automotive body builders to customize the needs of customers.
Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual said over a radio interview Tuesday, Feb. 14, that Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. (TMP) presented the plan late last year and Toyota Japan executives announced the revival of the more environment-friendly new-generation Tamaraw vehicle project during the visit of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in Japan last week.
TMP Vice-President Rommel Gutierrez also confirmed to reporters that the P4.4 billion Tamaraw project was already registered with the Board of Investments. The last Tamaraw vehicle project of TMP was listed under the Asian utility vehicle of the Motor Development Development Program of the BOI. It was mostly used as airconditioned passenger vehicle popularly known as Tamaraw FX, some of the units are still running on Metro Manila roads.
Pascual explained that as part of the Toyota Mobility Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV), the Tamaraw project will not only produce the entire vehicle but the company could produce LCV model for different purposes.
For instance, he said, the company can only provide the cab and chassis of Tamaraw, but leave the body building business to local truck body builders for customized purpose of the buyer. It could be for passenger jeepney, or double cab pick-ups for delivery purposes. It could also be customized for family use.
“So, there are potential businesses to link with Philippine firms,” said Pascual.
For his part, Gutierrez explained that the “Toyota Mobility LCV” takes inspiration from the heritage of the iconic Tamaraw, the first Asian Utility Vehicle (AUV) introduced in the 1970s.
As it has been Toyota’s mission to produce ever-better cars, TMP will showcase advancements from Tamaraw and further build on the reliability and flexibility it established for the Filipino customers.
“This Toyota Mobility LCV model aims to demonstrate the development of the Innovative International Multi-purpose Vehicle (IMV) and Toyota's future commitment to the Asian market including the Philippines, the third largest market in the ASEAN region. It is designed to adapt to the usage patterns and lifestyles of Asian customers,” said Gutierrez.
According to Gutierrez, TMP remains committed to local automotive manufacturing industry in the Philippines despite the difficulties brought by the pandemic and the general economic slowdown.
The new Tamaraw will be TMP’s third completely knocked down model in the country, the first two are Vios and Innova.
In addition, there is a rising demand for LCVs 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.
There is no definite timetable yet for the new Tamaraw manufacturing as the Toyota Mobility LCV is still at its prototype phase.
The P4.4 billion investment for the LCV model already covers vehicle production and parts localization.
“The introduction of third CKD model will help sustain automotive manufacturing in the Philippines, especially with the cessation of local production by other OEMs (original equipment manufacturers),” he said.