Hyundai commits to wider EV adoption in PH

Attending the first Landscape automotive industry briefing organized by Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI) and the Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors are (from left) Ateneo de Manila Dean of the School of Social Sciences Fernando Aldaba, Electric Vehicles Association of the Philippines executive director Jose Bienvenido Manuel Biona and HARI president and CEO Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo.

THE distributor of Hyundai in the Philippines said it is “committed to ramping up the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in the Philippines.”

Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI) president and CEO Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo at the recent Landscape automotive industry briefing said the government must offer incentives to the auto sector to promote the use of EVs.

Agudo said that besides lowering import taxes and other fiscal incentives, the government “should also look into non-fiscal incentives such as free registration for hybrid/EV vehicles, parking and toll fees to encourage the shift to more eco-friendly modes of transport.”

At the Landscape forum organized by the Hyundai distributor and the Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors, HARI said it called for increased collaboration among automakers, a viable roadmap for EV adoption, and competitive incentive packages from the government to encourage investment in the industry.

HARI bared the government is already working with South Korean automakers like Hyundai Motor to attract investments in the local EV industry. The company noted it has made a “concerted effort to help the administration foster a welcoming environment for investment in EVs.”

In April HARI introduced the Hyundai Kona Electric, the country’s first commercially available full-electric vehicle.

“We are encouraged by our government’s increasing focus on the environment by inviting South Korean automotive players to invest in the promising local EV industry. Already, the Philippines and South Korea are working to forge a bilateral free trade agreement that will pave the way for increased market access, including automotive products. On our part, we continue to work closely with industry and government partners to help create an environment that will spur the development of the country’s EV industry,” Agudo said.

Speakers at the Landscape forum included Jose Bienvenido Manuel Biona, executive director of the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (eVAP) and a professor at the Gokongwei College of Engineering of the De La Salle University. Quoting Biona, HARI said the eVAP head argued it is “high time to begin adopting EVs in the Philippines,” citing other Southeast Asian countries “have already laid out ambitious EV programs.”

Indonesia has targeted 2.1 million electric motorcycles and 2,200 electric cars by 2025; Thailand aims to have 1.2 million EVs by 2036; Malaysia hopes to have 100,000 electric cars, 100,000 motorcycles and 2,000 e-buses over the next 10 years, according to HARI.

“This goes beyond Hyundai’s business,” Agudo said regarding EV adoption. “This is about leaving a lasting legacy for future generations. We believe in doing business right and through the EV space, we will boost the competitiveness and overall sustainability of our country for years to come.”