By Almira Louise S. Martinez, Reporter
THE Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP) said its members are 鈥渇ar behind鈥 international brands and will struggle to compete due to the limited scale and sophistication of domestic-based production.
鈥淟ocal manufacturers do not have the capacity in terms of technology and capitalization,鈥 EVAP President Edmund A. Araga told 大象传媒 in an interview.
鈥淲e are far beyond compared to competitors outside the Philippines,鈥 he added.
According to the Department of Energy (DoE), the lack of familiarity with electric vehicle (EV) technology among consumers and industry participants impacts consumer confidence and slows the pace of adoption.
It added that the EV industry is experiencing challenges with 鈥渓imited manufacturing capacity, an underdeveloped value chain, and insufficient investments in charging systems and services.鈥
鈥淟ocal EV companies should first be strengthened and expanded to meet domestic demand, and eventually compete with international brands,鈥 the DoE said in an e-mail.
The DoE is monitoring the progress of the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act and the Comprehensive Roadmap for the EV Industry (CREVI) to address these shortcomings.
Key measures include the 鈥渞ollout of EV charging infrastructure, provision of fiscal incentives for both manufacturers and consumers to reduce cost, awareness campaigns, and capacity-building initiatives, including research and development efforts.鈥
鈥淭hat鈥檚 why we鈥檙e looking for solutions and the right programs that will set forth the rollout of our local manufacturers,鈥 Mr. Araga said.
鈥淲e need to give emphasis to local manufacturing,鈥 he added.
According to October data from the Board of Investments, domestic EV sales have totaled 15,000 units, subject to validation in the Motor Vehicle Registration data.
Hybrid EVs were the most popular type of EV on the market in 2023, followed by battery electric vehicles, the DoE said.
In 2025, the DoE sees growth in the Philippine EV market. The CREVI projects sales and registrations of 311,700 units in a business-as-usual scenario.
