In a rare move, Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation (TMP) recently opened the gates to its sprawling 78-hectare, Philippine Export Zone Authority (PEZA)-accredited Santa Rosa, Laguna facility to guests and select members of the media. More specifically, the company allowed an even more exclusive look at its manufacturing operations – giving us permission to document the goings-on via video and photography.
The star of the show was, of course, the Tamaraw – TMP’s returning commercial vehicle nameplate just launched publicly last Friday and whose first units will arrive at showrooms early next year. Verily, the event was fittingly staged at the location where the TMP assembly lines churn out the Vios and Innova because the Tamaraw has joined these models as very proudly Philippine-made.
Appropriately, too, members of the TMP team comprised the bulk of the audience at the gym where the various iterations of the model were unveiled in a "roll-off" ceremony.
"I have great confidence that the Tamaraw will be a resounding success in the Philippines, truly a game-changer, and will meet the evolving demands of our customers and strengthen further our footprint in this market," said Toyota Asia Region Deputy CEO Hao Quoc Tien in his speech, personally addressing the TMP team, key stakeholders, government partners, and members of the media.
He described the local assembly of the Tamaraw as "a capability breakthrough, being first of its kind in the Southeast Asian region."
This story is from the December 11, 2024 edition of The Philippine Star.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 11, 2024 edition of The Philippine Star.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Moving stories of 2024
The year 2024 is poised to be another record year post-pandemic for the automotive industry. Sales are estimated to be around 460,000, surpassing last year's 441,000 vehicles sold.
Philippine Luxury Residences: A Market Defined by Growth and Sustainability
The Philippine real estate market remained robust in 2024, with the luxury residential segment emerging as a key driver of growth.
Power Sector to See Brighter Days in 2025
Brighter days await the Philippine energy sector, with no power alerts expected in the year ahead amid intensified efforts to strengthen the country's supply, placing renewables at the forefront.
Top 10 energy news of 2024
Here is my list of the most significant power and energy stories for 2024.
DTI exceeds 2024 investment targets
FEARLESS FORECASTS, TOP PERFORMERS, KEY TRENDS
SM Approaches 2025 With Cautious Optimism
The SM Group is approaching the coming year with cautious optimism, encouraged by the continued growth of the Philippine economy.
Ahead of the curve: Top business trends for 2025
Navigate the future with these emerging opportunities
Freelancing and financial freedom: Boosting the economy one project at a time
The gig economy in the Philippines is a rising giant
Shop wherever, whenever: The future is e-commerce
The industry shows tremendous growth in the Philippines
AI for MSMEs: Looking through changes toward progress
For smaller businesses, AI poses both opportunities and risks