With the likes of Hyundai, Kia and even Chinese brands bringing electric vehicles (EV) to the Philippines, the Blue Oval is looking to get a piece of the action.
Ford Philippines managing director Mike Breen told AutoFun Philippines that the company is considering adding EVs to its local lineup, although he did not provide a set timeline.
“If you really think about the enthusiasm around EVs and what customers are looking for, just like everything else, we are trying to set ourselves up and prepare to respond,” he said.
“Fortunately, the government is really serious,” he added. “They’re taking into consideration what the opportunity is with EVs. And so, we’re continuing to monitor what that opportunity is and whatever point we’re in a position to do that, we’ll certainly do it.”
Among the battery-electric EVs that Ford sells worldwide is the Mustang Mach-E, which is a crossover that uses design cues from the popular Mustang muscle car.
The American carmaker also makes the F-150 Lightning, a fully electric, high-performance version of the F-150 full-size pick-up truck.
Strong government support
The Philippine government’s core legislation for EV development is Republic Act 11697 or the “Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act,” which lapsed into law on April 2022.
The measure provides the framework for developing EV infrastructure in the country, including charging stations and dedicated EV parking areas in public and private establishments.
R.A. 11697 also gives non-fiscal incentives for EV owners until April 2030, such as:
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Discounted motor vehicle user’s charge, vehicle registration fee and inspection fee
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Priority handling at the Land Transportation Office
In addition, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued an executive order on January 2023 that temporarily lifted all import duties on imported battery EVs and parts until 2028. This has led to substantial price reductions on models like the Nissan LEAF and the Weltmeister W5.
Meanwhile, Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines president Edmund Araga told AutoFun Philippines on November 2022 that the government is working on other fiscal incentives for people who buy an EV.
The government is eyeing that, by 2040, only brand-new EVs will be sold in the Philippines.
Hassle-free EV ownership
Breen said Ford Philippines wants to ensure that potential EV owners won’t be let down by insufficient support.
“The key here in the Philippines is to ensure that the infrastructure can support bringing EVs into the country,” he said. “And the main focus for us will be to bring it in at a point that it will create a really positive experience for customers, rather than any concerns about the ability to charge.”
Breen added that Ford Philippines is willing to contribute to beefing up the country’s EV infrastructure.
“That’s why it’s so important that we align with other automotive organizations to ensure that we’re aligned to what makes most sense,” he said.
“So Ford will certainly align with the opportunities to develop the infrastructure, think about where we can participate and how we may be in a position to participate,” Breen added.
In the United States, Ford operates the BlueOval Charge Network, which has over 84,000 charging stations nationwide and can be operated using the FordPass app.
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Source: EXCLUSIVE: Ford Philippines eyeing electric vehicles, EV infrastructure