Ford output for export mart up 42% to 9,092 units in November

MANILA, Philippines - Ford Motor Co. Philippines’ exports went up by a notable 42 percent 9,092 units of Ford and Mazda in November from a year ago level.

“Everyone at FMCP is proud to continue building on the success of our export program here in the Philippines, and passing the 75,000th unit milestone is a significant achievement for all of us,” said FGP president Randy Krieger.

“The continued export demand for the Ford and Mazda vehicles from our Santa Rosa facility is driven by the world-class quality and safety that our Filipino workforce delivers, and an ongoing commitment to excellence,” he added.

Exports this year have accounted for roughly half of FMCP’s total production volume, worth amore than $950 million. The firm recently celebrated the 75,000th vehicle manufactured for export from its Santa Rosa manufacturing facility. The milestone was reached with a new Ford Focus that was part the latest batch of exports bound for the the ASEAN markets.

As the first and only volume exporter of vehicles from the Philippines, FMCP has supplied the Ford Focus, Ford Escape and Mazda3 to ASEAN markets that include Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia since 2002.

Earlier, the government said it will cut in half the export requirement in the Auto Export program in an attempt to encourage more local manufacturers to sell completely build up (CBU) units overseas.

“We are looking at cutting in half the quota in the export plan,” Board of Investments (BOI) managing head Cristino L. Panlilio told reporters. Firms must be able to export 10,000 units in order to avail of the incentives.

Panlilio said the government decided to review the Auto Export Program and reduce the quota to only 5,000 units.

“It is harder to export because of the conditions and the agreements (free trade agreements) that the government is entering,” Panlilio said. “We are still studying the possible solution to this problem.” He said that even with incentives it has been difficult to export vehicles.

“What is the point of coming out with the export program if no one will avail. We have to think out of the box now,” Panlilio added.

He said that there is already a draft executive order that extends the Auto Export Program. “Basically it is the same but we are just bringing down the volume.”