Toyota Tamaraw revival to boost PH’s auto industry

DEPARTMENT of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Alfredo Pascual has welcomed the public announcement of Japanese carmaker Toyota to revive the assembly of its utility vehicle model Tamaraw in the Philippines.

In an interview with a local radio-television network Tuesday, Pascual said the revival of Toyota Tamaraw manufacturing in the country will reinvigorate local automotive and automotive parts production in the country, and will also support the industry’s growth as they recover from the pandemic.

During the official working visit of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to Japan last week, Toyota Motors Philippines (TMP) president Atsuhiro Okamoto presented the P4.4billion investments of the company, which will involve bringing back the local assembly of Tamaraw.

TMP vice president Rommel Gutierrez said the P4.4 billion investments will cover vehicle production and parts localization.

Aside from the assembly of Tamaraw, Pascual said TMP will manufacture the cab and chassis and sell them to other vehicle body builders.

“Kagandahan nito, pwede silang magbenta ng cab lang at chassis. ‘Yong mga Philippine