Philippine President Pushes Local Production of Electric Tricycles, Jeepneys
AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged the expansion of locally‑made electric tricycles and jeepneys during an Aug. 25 visit to MD Juan Enterprises in Caloocan City. The administration will link manufacturers with electric‑vehicle technologies created by Philippine universities, notably Cagayan State University’s ElectroMobility Research and Development Center, which has produced a seven‑seat electric tricycle and a conversion kit (C‑Trike) for existing units. MD Juan, which halted EV production in 2014 due to weak demand, is now poised to restart with government‑provided equipment and support. The university’s prototype costs about P600,000, while conversions run around P120,000; costs are expected to drop as production scales. DOST has funded the project with over P51 million and is promoting battery‑swapping systems and other university‑led EV initiatives.
💡 Why It Matters
- · By turning academic prototypes into mass‑produced vehicles, the Philippines can slash urban fuel imports and create a homegrown EV supply chain.