Toyota Motor Corporation used the recent Tokyo Business Roundtable to highlight the Philippines’ role in its manufacturing and supply chain operations, with the company calling for continued support for local vehicle production as Japan and the Philippines deepen their economic ties.

The roundtable was attended by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Japanese business leaders, with discussions covering trade, manufacturing, infrastructure, mobility, energy, and other areas of cooperation between the two countries. Toyota Motor Corporation was represented by Asia Region CEO Masahiko Maeda, who cited the company’s nearly 38 years of operations in the Philippines.

President Marcos said Japanese companies have become part of the country’s long-term development across several industries.

Addressing the room of business leaders in Tokyo, President Marcos stated, "Japanese companies have long been part of the Philippine story. But today, I want to say this clearly: you are no longer just investors in our economy; you are the builders of our economy. Across infrastructure, manufacturing, energy, mobility, logistics, digital transformation, trade, tourism, and services, Japanese enterprise has become deeply embedded in the Philippine development journey.”

Maeda said Toyota sees the Philippines as a long-term partner for industrial development and ASEAN cooperation. He also pointed to the need for policies that can help maintain local manufacturing and the supplier network built around it.

"Toyota remains committed to being a reliable, long-term partner to the Philippines supporting industrial development and ASEAN cooperation... We encourage the government to promote CKD-based local manufacturing across all technologies... This will help Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), deepen localization, strengthen local suppliers including conversions, attract investment, and sustain employment," Maeda said at the roundtable.

Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation continues to maintain Complete Knocked-Down operations in the country. Its locally produced models include the Vios, Innova, and Tamaraw. The Tamaraw, Toyota’s commercial vehicle platform for the Philippines and neighboring ASEAN markets, is designed for MSMEs, fleet operators, and public transport applications.

Toyota also raised the importance of internal combustion engine vehicles in the Philippine market. The company said ICE vehicles remain closely tied to the supply chain and to everyday customers, making them part of its Mobility for All approach while the industry moves through a changing mix of vehicle technologies.

Toyota Aisin Philippines, Inc. remains one of the main contributors to the Toyota Group’s local supply chain activity. The company produces and exports automotive transmissions, with cumulative manual transmission exports valued at more than USD 3.8 billion. These have been shipped to markets in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, giving the Philippines a role in Toyota’s global automotive value chain.

The discussions also covered Toyota’s decarbonization approach under the Asian Zero Emission Community framework. Maeda cited biofuels as part of the energy security discussion, particularly for markets where agriculture, transport, and industrial development remain closely connected.

Toyota said the practical use of biofuels such as E20, B5, and higher blends could support cleaner mobility while creating additional demand from the agricultural sector. For the Philippines, biofuels could make the shift to cleaner transport more practical by tying it to local agriculture and relying less on imported fuel or imported vehicle technology.

Toyota’s statements in Tokyo placed its Philippine operations within the 70-year diplomatic and economic relationship between the Philippines and Japan. The company’s message centered on keeping the country active in manufacturing, supply chain development, and the rollout of different vehicle technologies suited to local market needs.