Ford Philippines is keeping a close watch on the government’s proposed plan to exempt American-branded vehicles from import tariffs. Still, the company says it’s too early to determine its impact, especially on models like the Mustang Mach-E.
Speaking to Autocar Philippines during the surprise preview of the Mustang Mach-E, Ford Group Philippines Managing Director Pedro Simoes clarified that the all-electric Mustang Mach-E, priced at P3.499 million locally, will not be affected if the zero-tariff policy pushes through.
“That should affect only the vehicles produced in the U.S.,” Simoes said. “The Mach-E is produced in our plant in Mexico. All the Mach-Es are produced in Mexico.”
The proposed executive order, if implemented, could remove the 30% import tariff currently applied to US-built vehicles. For Ford Philippines, that could mean new opportunities to bring in specific models that have so far been less accessible to local buyers.
Still, Simoes stressed that Ford will not make any decisions until the government publishes the final rules. “We need to see the executive order coming first… exactly how the implementation is going to be done and what it means. Once it is implemented – if it goes ahead – then we need to see how the market is going to shift,” he said.
Lower prices on US-built models could nudge customer preferences, according to Simoes. “There are cars that probably today are a little bit unaffordable for some customers that all of a sudden become slightly more affordable, which means the customer might have a preference,” he explained.
As for whether Ford Philippines is eyeing specific vehicles to benefit from zero tariffs, Simoes remained tight-lipped. “I do not comment on future products,” he said, adding that Ford is currently in a “holding pattern” until the final details are precise.
On a personal note, Simoes acknowledged the potential upside of the proposal. “It’s a good direction for us, and I think it can open up some segments that today have a little bit more closed response to the customer,” he said.
But he was quick to temper expectations. “Like I said, we really need to see the nitty and gritty – the small fine print – because a lot of times the devil is in the details.”
