MVPMAP Statement on the PhUV Feedback Thread in Tsikot.com

MOTOR VEHICLE PARTS MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILIPPINES (MVPMAP)

July 2, 2007

MESSAGE to TSIKOT.COM on the PhUV

First of all, we would like to acknowledge the help of tsikot.com and all its members here and abroad who have posted and offered their comments, both positive and negative, about our Philippine Utility Vehicle (PhUV) experimental prototype . So to all you guys & gals, thank you very much.

MVPMAP conceptualized and designed the PhUV for a specific target market, a specific price range and specific vehicle applications. It was not intended to either be a "people's car" or a can-do-everything vehicle; neither was it dreamt to be a "perfect" prototype, it being just experimental prototype #1. A lot of improvements will still have to be brought upon the product before it goes to the next level: another prototype (if finances permit) and mass production.

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The PhUV was then fabricated and assembled on a shoestring budget. No investments were made on expensive molds, dies and jigs. The over 300 local parts were donated by MVPMAP members. The diesel engine was loaned from Dreamco Automotive. The funding was provided by a consortium of ten MVPMAP officers. The engineers gave their services gratis. Even most of the launching needs were donated by friends who had friends who had friends. Despite these limitations and very limited resources, MVPMAP decided to go ahead and develop the PhUV. And why?

The MVPMAP is an organization of about 130 local auto parts makers. Due to the reduced demand for local parts, most of our members are operating at only 40% of their plant and even worse, some have closed shop. We are reeling from the impact of a stagnant car auto industry sales that have not grown for the last eleven years, not even breaching the 100,000-unit mark (compare this to Thailand with over 800,000 units, Malaysia with over 600,000 units and Indonesia with over 500,000 units); of the increasing sales of CBU vehicles (with no local parts and labor in them); and of the failure to implement a Supreme Court decision completely banning the sale of used imported vehicle, especially via the Subic Freeport.

The local parts making industry is dying and something has to be done fast. MVPMAP is pinning its hopes on the PhUV: that the government and Congress will take notice of it and grant incentives not only to the assemblers but to the parts makers and buyers as well. That the Japanese and American big boys of the local auto industry will look at the sad plight of the local parts making industry and the over 50,000 workers dependent on it and assemble more vehicles out of CKD kits with a high level of local value-added parts and labor. The PhUV is the rallying point of an industry that is slowly being decimated. MVPMAP could definitely not afford the PhUV Program but we took a chance.

We launched the PhUV, ang tunay na sasakyang Pinoy, on a date that is significant to Filipinos, Independence Day. We took a long shot and invited Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to launch the PhUV and she came. So did DTI Sec. Peter Favila. We had to unveil an experimental prototype before Congress convenes on July 1, 2007 so that when the bill drafted by the Board of Investments on the PhUV Incentives Package is presented before the honorable members of Congress, they will no longer have any doubt that a truly Pinoy vehicle is not just a dream but a reality. They will realize that indeed, given the chance and the support, the Filipino parts makers and craftsmen, not necessarily MVPMAP alone, are capable of designing and building a truly Pinoy vehicle.

We have closely monitored the tsikot.com thread on the PhUV experimental prototype and we appreciate all your comments. We look at the negative ones as constructive criticisms. As a matter of fact, as you read this message, some of your constructive ideas that are doable have been implemented. We have noted down the rest as we re-design (involving style, engineering & fabrication method) the PhUV for hopefully, an experimental prototype #2 and then mass production. We are grateful to the tsikot.com members as you have provided very valuable inputs, particularly in the design aspects.

In closing, we hope that you join us in praying na sana, for the survival of the local parts making industry, magtagumpay ang PhUV, ang sasakyang tunay na Pinoy. Gawa ng Pinoy, para sa Pinoy. Maraming salamat po………

MVPMAP
7-02-07

Discuss this in the MVPMAP Statement on the PhUV Feedback Thread in Tsikot.com thread.

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