Summary
- Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited the Tesla Center in BGC, hoping Tesla will build a gigafactory in the country
- Philippines joins Indonesia and Thailand in trying to attract Tesla for a manufacturing plant
- Tesla Model 3 Highland deliveries expected to start in the Philippines, with plans for Model Y as well
- President Marcos sees Tesla’s potential investment as a recognition of the nation’s forward-thinking policies
- Competition in the EV industry in the Philippines is expected to grow with investments and government support, making EV dominance achievable in the future.
Article
The President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., recently visited the Tesla Center in Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Taguig, expressing hope that Tesla will consider building a gigafactory in the country. He sees Tesla as building a generation of Filipinos equipped to lead in the global shift towards sustainable technologies and hopes that Tesla may one day choose to manufacture its vehicles in the Philippines. The move is part of a larger effort by Southeast Asian countries to attract Tesla, with the Philippines joining Indonesia and Thailand in wooing the electric vehicle company.
As Tesla CEO Elon Musk has talked to the President of Indonesia about a potential factory in the country, discussions have not led to anything concrete. Similarly, Tesla has also spoken with the Prime Minister’s office in Thailand about a vehicle factory, but the country has not finalized an agreement. The Philippines hopes to become the next Southeast Asian market for Tesla, with deliveries of Tesla Model 3 Highland expected to start later this month and plans to deliver Tesla Model Y vehicles by the end of the first quarter. All Model Y orders will automatically switch to the new Juniper models once Giga Shanghai is ready to export them to the Philippines.
President Marcos sees Tesla’s decision to invest in the Philippines as a recognition of the nation’s potential, driven by forward-thinking policies and a collective determination to innovate. He believes that as Tesla lays a groundwork in the country and as the Philippines invests in infrastructure and implements policies supporting the industry, competition will grow, leading to a future where half of the vehicles on the streets are EVs. The President is hopeful that Tesla’s investment will not only benefit the country economically but also help in transitioning towards a more sustainable future.
The Philippines’ push to attract Tesla reflects a larger trend of countries in Southeast Asia vying to become potential sites for Tesla’s manufacturing plants. With the region seen as a key market for electric vehicles, Tesla’s entry into the Philippines is expected to have a positive impact on the country’s automotive landscape and economy. President Marcos believes that Tesla’s presence in the country will contribute to fostering innovation and developing a new generation of technology leaders who can drive the global shift towards sustainable technologies.
Tesla’s expansion into Southeast Asia is part of its broader strategy to grow its presence in key markets around the world. With the Philippines becoming the fourth Southeast Asian market for Tesla, the company’s presence in the region is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. As the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand compete to attract Tesla’s investment, it remains to be seen where the electric vehicle company will ultimately decide to build its manufacturing plant. The competition underscores the region’s potential as a hub for electric vehicle production and its importance in the global shift towards sustainable technologies.
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