The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) eyes possible investment in the manufacture of bodies of electric vehicles (EVs), according to Manuel Pangilinan, Meralco chairman and chief executive officer.
The Meralco board will meet this week to discuss the plan.
Pangilinan said Meralco aims to ink a partnership with companies for the manufacture of EV bodies, a venture which has a natural synergy with the plans of its sister company, Philex Mining Corp. to engage in nickel mining.
“The future for EVs is bright. A number of car manufacturers said they will no longer have fossil fuel vehicles starting 2027. We have to be in that correct position,” Pangilinan said.
“I was in China last week. One of the Chinese telco vendors partnered with a Chinese automotive company… If we can replicate that here, I think we’re capable of building bodies, not yet as complicated as cars, but motorcycles,” Pangilinan added.
Meralco remains keen on helping mainstream EV charging stations as it has the largest reach in the country in terms of franchise area.
Last March, Meralco formed a subsidiary, Movem Electric Inc. to venture into charging stations, hardware, software, batteries, vehicles, accessories, parts, gadgets, digital applications and other equipment covering transport service networks that will transport passengers and merchandise for the domestic and foreign markets. – Jed Macapagal
