Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said a company has expressed interest to acquire the assembly plant vacated by Honda Cars Philippines Inc. (HCPI).
Lopez told reporters over the weekend an existing investor in the Philippines intends to use the facility for its expansion interest.
When pressed for details, Lopez only said “it’s not necessarily car.”
Lopez said this only shows that if there are still investors interested to locate and expand in the country just as there are those which leave, HCPI for example.
“It’s each own niche. One company may see the country as a big market for some products… a big market for cars but maybe for not all brands of cars,” Lopez said.
As in the case of HCPI, Lopez said “Honda (as a brand) is big in motorcycles (here) but not in the cars business.”
HCPI’s plant, located in Sta. Rosa, Laguna closed its factory beginning February 24.
The facility has a capacity to produce 30,000 units a year and sits on a 19,225-square meter area at the Laguna Technopark where Honda Engine Manufacturing Philippines Inc. is co-located. Designed and supervised by Shimizu Corp. and Gilbert C. Yu & Associates, the factory was completed in 1992.
