MMPC Pursues Plan to Export RP-Assembled MPV to ASEAN

Mitsubishi Motor Philippines Corp. (MMPC) has not given up on its plan to export a locally assembled multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) for the ASEAN market as it sees an opportunity in the production of diesel-fed Fuzion, the planned entry level model, in light of the high fuel prices.

MMPC senior vice president Melchor Dizon told reporters the plan to transform the Philippines as a production for an Asian Utility Vehicle has remained under serious study.

“MMPC’s objective is to be an exporter, that remains to be our aspirational objective,” Dizon said. Read more

Nissan Sees RP Auto Sales Up by 8% in 2008; Launches New MPV

Nissan Motor Philippines Inc. (NMPI) expects local auto sales to remain on high gear this year, zooming eight percent more to 126,000 units, as demand for compact cars and fuel-efficient models heightens.

Last year, the country’s auto industry sales broke past the 100,000-mark for the first time in a decade to 117,000 units as manufacturers unveiled upgraded variants of best-selling models to meet the growing demand for utility or multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs).

“The opportunity lies in the AUV and MPV segment where the biggest migration of vehicle owners seems to be happening,” NMPI president Allen Chen said during the launch yesterday of its 1.8-liter Grand Livina MPV.

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