The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has been ramping up its efforts in cracking down on illegally imported vehicles. The agency’s initiative to stop the flow of imported vehicles in the country is supported by the Auto Body Manufacturers Association of the Philippines (ABMAP).
ABMAP backs the said LTO initiative as illegally imported vehicles not just lack the legal and proper documents, but also don’t meet the safety requirements, especially when the vehicle is converted from Right Hand Drive (RHD) to Left Hand Drive (LHD). ABMAP also said that it has thrown its support behind the LTO since imported vehicles, such as mini vehicles and kei cars, have “become increasingly visible on Philippine roads in recent years.”
One of the testaments to LTO’s efforts is that it has restricted or denied registration of several Japan Domestic Market (JDM) vehicles, including gray-market imports of the Suzuki Jimny (imported variants), Suzuki Hustler, Suzuki Spacia, Suzuki Palette, Suzuki Wagon R, and Suzuki Stingray. These actions apply specifically to vehicles not officially distributed by Suzuki Philippines and those that entered the country outside authorized importation channels.
ABMAP cited Republic Act No. 8506, which prohibits the operation of RHD vehicles on Philippine roads. The organization expressed that while some of these vehicles undergo conversion to LHD, the LTO has repeatedly flagged many of these conversions as unsafe, inconsistent, or non-compliant with vehicle safety standards, according to ABMAP.
“Moving the steering wheel is not enough. Steering conversion affects the entire vehicle—braking balance, steering geometry, structural integrity, and crash safety. If these are done without manufacturer standards, you are putting drivers, passengers, and other road users at risk,” said ABMAP Executive Director Edgar Manuel.
ABMAP added that most kei cars are designed and engineered specifically for Japan’s urban environment, where speed limits are lower, and vehicle dimensions are tightly regulated. In contrast, ABMAP stressed that Philippine road conditions involve mixed traffic, heavier vehicles, longer travel distances, and less forgiving road infrastructure.
ABMAP also expressed that the country is losing billions of pesos as illegally imported vehicles avoid full duties, taxes, and compliance costs. Another red flag cited by ABMAP involves rebuilt and misdeclared units, particularly those entering through ports and free zones. Some vehicles are imported as “used parts,” later reassembled and registered under questionable processes.
