Toyota has reaffirmed its support for the strong economic relationship between Japan and the Philippines during a high-level business meeting in Tokyo, attended by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and top Japanese business leaders.
During the meeting, President Marcos noted the structural value of longtime Japanese investors like Toyota, shifting the bilateral narrative beyond standard trade into hard, long-term commercial infrastructure. President Marcos also expressed his gratitude to Japanese companies like Toyota for investing in the Philippines.
“Japanese companies have long been part of the Philippine story. But today, I want to say this clearly: you are no longer just investors in our economy; you are the builders of our economy. Across infrastructure, manufacturing, energy, mobility, logistics, digital transformation, trade, tourism, and services, Japanese enterprise has become deeply embedded in the Philippine development journey,” President Marcos said.
Toyota Motor Corporation Asia Region CEO Masahiko Maeda highlighted Toyota’s economic footprint in the Philippines through almost 38 years of its business operations. He urged the Philippine government to continue supporting local vehicle manufacturing.
“Toyota remains committed to being a reliable, long-term partner to the Philippines supporting industrial development and ASEAN cooperation… We encourage the government to promote CKD-based local manufacturing across all technologies… This will help Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), deepen localization, strengthen local suppliers including conversions, attract investment, and sustain employment,” Maeda shared.
Currently, Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) makes popular vehicles such as the Vios, Innova, and Tamaraw at its Santa Rosa plant in Laguna. Of note, Toyota shared that the Tamaraw is a commercial vehicle made specifically to help small businesses and improve public transport. Speaking of the latter, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has officially granted the Toyota Tamaraw the “Modern PUV” certification.
TMP continues to maintain Complete Knocked-Down (CKD) operations in the Philippines. In an evolving global supply chain, Toyota noted the importance of continued government support to sustain the local automotive manufacturing industry, including Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles (ICEV).
In terms of the supply chain, Toyota Aisin Philippines, Inc. (TAP) is engaged in automotive transmission production and exportation. Through TAP, the Toyota Group has cumulatively exported manual transmissions worth over USD 3.8 billion (around P235 billion) to global markets including Asia, Africa, and Latin America, positioning the Philippines as a vital hub in global automotive value chains.
Another key focus of Toyota’s strategy aligns with the Asian Zero Emission Community (AZEC) cooperation framework. Maeda mentioned that biofuels are a crucial element of energy security that can also support the Philippines’ agricultural sector.
Toyota said that by encouraging the practical adoption of biofuels such as E20, B5, and beyond, the Philippines can enable a clean mobility ecosystem that directly engages local farmers in the energy supply chain, ensuring that the country’s path toward decarbonization remains economically inclusive, more self-reliant and secure.
Autocar’s Take
Toyota Motor Corporation showed its commitment to maintaining support for the strong economic ties between Japan and the Philippines. This means that Toyota intends to continue its operations in the country, with the possibility of expanding them further. To do this, Toyota highlighted that government support plays a key role in further strengthening its local operations, such as manufacturing vehicles like the Vios, Innova, and Tamaraw.
Overall, Toyota shared that the meeting ended with strong support from Japanese companies for the Philippines’ economic future. This teamwork ensures that the 70-year friendship and business alliance between Japan and the Philippines will grow even stronger in the years to come.
