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MMPC Present Mirage G4 to Pres Rodrigo Duterte Industry News

2,437 views · Published 9 March 2017 · 4:51 · Indexed 19 October 2026

Channel: Auto Focus · 2017 · Autos & Vehicles

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Mitsubishi Motors Corporation’s president and CEO Mr. Osamu Masuko flew in to the country to present the first Philippine made Mirage G4 to His Excellency President Rodrigo Roa Duterte at the Malacanan Palace. The Mirage G4 is the first vehicle to be manufactured locally under the Philippine government’s Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy or CARS Program. With MMC’s commitment to the government and on the CARS Program, they have already invested 4.3 billion pesos for the production facilities and equipment requirement.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte
Republic of the Philippines
“This event marks another milestone in the Philippines’ car industry as we launch the Philippine-manufactured Mitsubishi Mirage G4 as part of the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy or CARS Program. I’ve always been grateful to our partners from Japan and the trust and confidence and the Filipino people. Truly, your continued investments and expansions of business in the country have contributed to the flourishing economy of the Philippines.”

The ceremony was attended by top executives of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation Japan, Sojitz Corporation, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines, government officials and diplomats as this marks a significant milestone to the local automotive industry and to the Philippine economy.

Osamu Masuko
President and CEO
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation Japan
“It’s an honor to be able to hold this ceremony with you today. Starting this month, the Mirage G4 with P4.3B investments will be the first authorized vehicle to start production under the CARS Program and initiative by the Department of Trade and Industry. Thanks to all of you, our promise made last year with the Philippine government is now a reality.”

After the Malacanang event, a press conference was held at the Shangrila Hotel in Makati to clarify further the CARS Program and the looming excise tax hike. The CARS Program is being implemented in order to attract new investments, stimulate demand and effectively implement industry regulations that will revitalize the Philippine automotive industry, and develop the country as a regional automotive manufacturing hub. With the start of the production of the Mirage G4 and Mirage Hatchback in May, MMPC aims to manufacture 20,000 units at the end of the year. 

Yoshiaki Kato
President and CEO
Mitsubishi Motors Philippines
“The production started two weeks ago. Still, we are beginning the program but as you know, the program is six years. We are planning to sell the Mirage G4 and the Mirage, 200,000 units in a six-year term. This month, we start (the) production of Mirage G4 but as for Mirage Hatchback, we are going to start production in May. Also, next January, we are now constructing building across stamping shop and it will be operational January next year. We’ll be full force next year.”

With the impending vehicle excise tax hike, the government said that it will not have much effect on the local auto makers because it will be absorbed by the car buyers especially mass market cars like the Mitsubishi Mirage. Mr. Dante Santos, the first vp for corporate management division has explained further the results of a possible excise tax increase.

Dante Santos
First VP-Corporate Management
Mitsubishi Motors Philippines
“The original and ultimate number for the Mirage is 200,000. Even from the start, we've been talking about CARS for the past one and a half year. We did not anticipate a move towards changing the excise tax level. Right now, we're studying the impact. We are trying to put down the price of the Mirage because we are not competitive on a regional or Southeast Asia pricing level. Our studies indicate that we are 17% higher to produce the same Mirage compared to the same item being produced in Thailand. That's why the CARS was enthusiastically entered into to be able to say we can manufacture lower cost and become regionally competitive. Rather than go CBU,(?) go manufacturing in Manila.”

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