Rant: why can't Philippines have it's own car

[elljay]

Maybe they import the steel, but as far as I can remember, the Mazda 3, Ford Focus & Ford Escape aren't just assembled here, Ford has a stamping facility at their Sta. Rosa, Laguna plant.

Is it also true that some of their engines were built here?

Modern cars have become more complex, its almost impossible to start from scratch. The best thing to do is to form a joint-venture with an established brand and borrow some of their (older) designs.

For example: License the old Revo from Toyota and use it as a basis for a locally branded AUV (PhUV), just give it a facelift/reskin to update its styling.
The important thing is whats under the skin (a proper body structure, platform/chassis & mechanicals), we still don't have that level of engineering.

level in terms of what?

[kaskasero]

I don't think it's feasible to immediately start with building cars (sedans) and compete with Toyota and Honda, (even the Americans are having a hard time). We just need to start with something simple, reliable and affordable for the masses. Kinda like the VW beetle and the Honda cub. Maybe scooters or multicabs. Sell it to the masses here and sell it to other poor nations that could use something similar. Then using the money made from that then we can develop our own car maybe with the help of other manufacturers. I don't see anything wrong with collaborating with or copying other manufacturers when you are just starting out. But eventually you need to make your own stuff.

Proton and Hyundai started with the technology of Mitsubishi. Hyundai is doing their own thing now and Proton owns Lotus so maybe they would come up with something nice one of these days. The Toyota Land cruiser started with US Jeeps they acquired when the Japs invaded the Philippines but they developed it until it is now something totally different. Our owner types are no different from their WWII ancestors, except the old WWII jeeps are way cooler. Anyway I guess my point is that once we make the first step we need to think ahead and develop and evolve. If Sarao and all those companies that made jeepneeys and other vehicles joined forces back in the day and developed a car with quality in mind we could have had a chance to have our own car.

Once we have our own car the next problem is managing the brand. It's going to take at least a couple generations from the time the first car is produced and from the time the brand is trusted and is in demand. A little more than 10 years ago the way we look at Korean cars is the same way we look at Chinese cars now.

Colonial mentality is not impossible to overcome, we just need enough time to take care of the brand. It would help a lot if the Filipino culture in general is quality oriented, problem is most people are just focused on making a quick buck instead of creating a brand or a reputation. We do have some local brands / companies that we look up to like San Miguel and Ayala, maybe they can start their own automobile division or something, even Toyota and Mitsubishi started in other industries before they started selling cars.

[niky]

RE: Ford plant: some trim and wiring is imported, but the cars are assembled here. Ford Duratec engines and Ranger/Everest TDCi engines are milled here from solid billet in computerized lathes and assembled locally. The engines are tested and then either used locally or shipped to other Ford factories.

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We already have our own locally designed and built motorcycles, from a Philippine owned company (MCX). We could do cars, but the problem is, the local market is way too small to support a local effort.

To sell our cars in foreign markets, we'll need the money for research on crash safety, emissions quality , mechanical reliability and etcetera. It's certain that we have the talent to do all of these... what we don't have is the money. Local investors aren't likely to support a program that has no chance of commercial success.

But that doesn't stop people from dreaming. There's MVPMAP PhUV... the Anfra AUV project, the  backyard builders who design and build their own sportscars, and the current C! letter of the month writer... who worked on British small-scale sportscar projects and is now working on a city car and looking for backers.

Again, we have the engineering talent. We even have some of the industrial facilities needed.

What we don't have is the money.

[kalbs]

will you buy it?

[kaskasero]

will you buy it?

if it's a re-badged Ferrari hahahahha

[niky]

will you buy it?

If the quality is right for the price... why not?

[john5]

i think colonial mentality we become a great factor

[kalbs]

i dont think quality will be good since it will be a first...

that's why its hard... support from govt is really needed... and when you are talking about OUR govt..then......alam mo na mangyayari

[johnqpublic318]

According to the news, the government is wooing the Chinese to put up their car assembly, parts manufacturing plants here in country, investment that's good.

But why can't we have our own car, I mean, like Proton of Malaysia, Kia of Korea, something like that. I'm pretty sure we have the talent/engineers and know-how and some of the raw products needed to build a car or engine.

Why are there no local businessmen, trying to embark on this type of business?

It's just so frustrating, knowing very well that we have the talent and know-how here available but we can't seem to put it to good use.   Napag-iiwanan tuloy tayo ng mga SE asian neighbors natin, damn.

Then go ahead and fund it.  Fund research and development, manufacturing processes, training, etc.  Fund the wind tunnel, the cnc machines, CAD facilities, materials testing facilities, test tracks, etc.

Talk is cheap.  Put up the billions and it will be done.  Maybe just many-many millions if you're just going to re-brand or re-manufacture an existing vehicle.  Protons are based on old Mitsubishis.  Remember, even a Sarao jeep is based on an existing chassis and drivetrain.  It's not raw from scratch.

[a/c tech]

in my personal opinion, its the law, raw materials dito sa pinas ay mataas ang "tax" kesa manggagaling sa ibang bansa, kaya walang naglalakas loob na gumawa ng "sariling atin" na brand in automotive world

[Conan®]

in my personal opinion, its the law, raw materials dito sa pinas ay mataas ang "tax" kesa manggagaling sa ibang bansa, kaya walang naglalakas loob na gumawa ng "sariling atin" na brand in automotive world

If that were the case then why did Ford set up an assembly plant here?

[Emong3]

RE: Ford plant: some trim and wiring is imported, but the cars are assembled here. Ford Duratec engines and Ranger/Everest TDCi engines are milled here from solid billet in computerized lathes and assembled locally. The engines are tested and then either used locally or shipped to other Ford factories.

Wow ford is doing this now? The scenario was quite different back in 2003 when I worked there. Every thing was shipped from different parts of the world, and then just assembled here. Then the finished product, lynx, and escape was mostly exported. majority ng ang production namin dati is RHD, around 10% lang for local market.

Building a pinoy vehicle is possible. Malaking tulong kung may support ng government. Like sa taxes.
It is possible to manufacture a car out of standard components that is readyly available in the global market. But if the government will be taxing for example a pinoy car manufactuing company, the finished product will cost maybe even more than its imported rivals.

I myself has been thinking of how we pinoys can create a car brand, kahit hindi for export. Just for our own use.
a car that can do it's basic job, bringing the passenger from point a to point b in a comfortable and economical way.

Kung for private ang target market, i think kahit mura ang tag price ng pinoy car baka hindi pa din maging competitive.
Maybe start with public transport. for example kung susuporta ang LTFRB, they will only issue taxi franchise to one brand only, which is the pinoy brand. Then the pinoy brand shall manufacture all LPG powered passenger cars to supply the demand for a taxi cab.

And isa pa, if the car will be bought for private use naman, maybe a cheaper registration fee compared to imported branded cars.

Kung ganyan ang magiging support ng government, I think people will start buying a pinoy branded car.

[jdm_rims]

Passing Quality standards can be very expensive too..A lot of production units have to be sent for crash tests in order to acquire certification..