Toyota suppliers group to invest P7.5 billion in PH as industry awaits roadmap

The Toyota Group of Export Suppliers has announced that it will invest as much as P7.5 billion until 2016 for new projects. These will include using more locally manufactured parts in the Vios model, amid challenging export market conditions. The Vios is Toyota Motor Philippines’ best-selling model and is assembled at the company’s Santa Rosa factory.

These suppliers are Aichi Forging Co.; EDS Manufacturing Inc.; Fujitsu Ten Corp. of the Phils.; International Wiring Harness; JECO Autoparts Inc.; Koyo Mfg. Inc.; Nippon Antenna (Phils.) Inc.; Philippine Auto Components Inc.; Philippine HKR Inc.; Technol Eight Phils. Corp.; Tokai Rica Phils. Inc.; Toyota Autoparts Phils. Inc.; and Yazaki Torres Manufacturing Inc.

The Toyota Group said in a statement that it has committed to continue making these new investments to prepare for export recovery, as well as to serve the increase in local demand for production parts. The investments are being made amid expectations of a 4-percent decline in the Toyota Group’s export performance this year to $897 million, which reflected a reduction in the group’s earlier target of breaching the $1-billion mark for export receipts in 2014.

The group’s first quarter export sales already fell by 15 percent to $216 million from the $253 million registered in the same period last year, the Toyota Group said in a statement issued Wednesday. Last year, the group’s export performance also declined by 3 percent to $939 million compared to previous year’s level.

The Toyota Group is composed of 13 parts export suppliers, performing strategic roles in the manufacture and export of automotive products to the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Japan, and other parts of the world.

The revised and more conservative forecast for export receipts was due to the current situation of two major export markets affecting the group’s exports, explained Toyota Motor Philippines president Michinobu Sugata.

Decline in domestic demand is foreseen in Thailand given the political situation there, while market contraction is expected in Japan following the implementation of higher consumption tax beginning April 2014, Sugata explained.

He emphasized, however, that the “slowdown in export performance is only temporary and that exports will soon recover. The booming Philippine auto market will also be an additional source of growth for parts suppliers.”

To help the industry maximize the upcoming opportunities, the Toyota Group has also sought for immediate government intervention to revitalize local automotive manufacturing, especially at this time when investment decisions need to be finalized by the mother companies in Japan.

A major factor being considered in investment decisions is the approval of the much anticipated new automotive manufacturing industry roadmap. The timing of the issuance is reportedly critical to the Toyota Group.

Approximately $300 million in new investments are being considered in view of the forthcoming new auto policy. Final decisions will be made once the government finally issues the auto roadmap.

With report by Amy Remo