Czech electronic appliances manufacturer Tesla Technology and local partner Smart Citi Teknologi signed Thursday an agreement for the internet-based platform and production of electronics products in the Philippines.
The agreement will enable the transfer of technology and, eventually, production of different Tesla electronic products in the country
Smart Citi president and chief executive Mario Marcos, a second cousin of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., said the partnership would leverage on the 80-year track record of Tesla as an innovator and producer of sensors, cameras, lighting and LEDS used in consumer electronics.
“We’ll try to set-up an assembly point either in Subic or Cavite. We’re yet to finalize the terms of the agreement, but we have agreed on certain parameters,” he said.
Smart Citi will invest $5 million for the transfer of technology and another $3 million for the production of small electronics products.
The partnership will also launch a health platform to help provide urgent palliative measures to prevent, for instance, a cardiac arrest or stroke.
“This is like bringing the hospital to your home,” said Tesla president Peter Matejcheck, who came to the Philippines for the agreement signing.
The partnership also expects to start producing medical devices that will connect users direct to hospital systems and the so-called magnetic engine that can be used as automobile engine, aircraft engine, locomotive engine, ship engine and lawnmower engine.
“We aim to become an exporter of Tesla products. We intend to give a good name to the business by integrating the Philippines with Tesla technology,” Marcos said. He said the partnership was looking at opening job opportunities to 5,000 Filipinos.
Marcos also tapped Tesla Technologies to provide the platform for a proposed smart city.
He said Smart Citi initiated talks with Converge ICT Solutions Inc. for end-to-end last mile data and communications service, among other projects in the pipeline.