Francisco Motors Corp. has asked the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to give the third slot of the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) program to local assemblers of jeepneys for the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program.
Elmer Francisco, company president, in a television interview said this will entitle the local assemblers like Francisco Motors to incentives equivalent to P200,00 per unit, in addition to the subsidy Department of Transportation (DOTr) of P360,000 per unit. CARS program has a budget of P9 billion per participant, with two slots occupied by foreign companies.
The price will drastically be reduced by P560,000 to P1.2 million to P1.5 million from P1.8 million to P2 million.
Francisco met with DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista and other officials of the agency on Friday where he presented Francisco Motors’ technology on an electric jeepney (e-jeepney) while retaining the traditional look and design of the king of the road.
Francisco said the e-jeepney will use wireless charging powered by renewable energy. Since the e-jeepney is self-charging, there is no need to plug the vehicle which means there will be no downtime for the driver.
Francisco said the company is building a special economic zone in Camarines Norte, to jumpstart mass production of the e-jeepney.
“Francisco Motors will no longer assemble diesel-fed jeepneys especially with rising prices of fuel. E-jeepneys are also good for the environment,” he said.
Francisco Motors will meet with DTI next week to follow up on the request for inclusion in the CARS.
