American firm Envirotech Vehicles (EVT) plans to export 200 units of electric buses from its facility in Clark Freeport Zone to Singapore, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) said over the weekend.
PEZA director-general Tereso Panga said the Philippines would be the first manufacturing hub of EVT in the ASEAN.
“We are committed to the net zero aspiration of the government. And this is the perfect time to be shifting form fossil fuel-based to electric modes of transportation,” he said.
EVT and Clark-based developer Berthaphil Inc. signed an agreement in March 2023 for the establishment of an electric vehicle manufacturing plant in Clark. EVT is a transportation provider and manufacturer of all-electric and zero-emission vehicles, including electric and hybrid-electric buses and trucks.
Panga said the government would protect and support the $80-million investment of EVT through fiscal and non-fiscal incentives provided for in the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA).
The company will also benefit from the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Act for performance-based tax incentives, he said.
Meanwhile, a Chinese motorcycle manufacturer is expected to register with PEZA in January 2024 for the assembly of electronic cars in the Philippines.
The Chinese firm is one of the two e-motorcycle manufacturing investments that PEZA is working on. An Indonesian company is also expected to register next year for a similar project.
Panga said the Chinese company is looking at economic zones in Calabarzon and Pampanga where it could set up a manufacturing base.