Chinese-Korean e-vehicle maker puts up HQ in Bacolod

BACOLOD CITY – Chinese-Korean electric vehicle company e-Future Motors Philippines (PH) Inc. has set up its headquarters here with an initial investment of $200,000 (around P11.5 million).

e-Future Motors Philippines is a subsidiary of Jiangsu Fengchuen New Energy Power Technology Co. Ltd. with head office in Jiangsu province and factory in Jiangyin City – all in China. It manufactures new energy commercial vehicles such as e-jeepneys and battery systems.

Its Korean Chief executive officer BK Shin said they are also eyeing to build a manufacturing plant here for e-vehicles in the coming years. “In the future, we will put in more money because we have many things to do,” Shin said.

Tapping local transport operators under the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program, Shin said e-Future Motors PH is arranging the arrival of 36 units of e-jeepneys from China ordered by its first customer from the Philippines, the Cebu People’s Multi-Purpose Cooperative, owner-operator of the modernized People’s Jeep, for the Fortune Towne-Central Market route in this city.

Shin said the e-jeepney units, which will have the look of the iconic Pinoy jeepney, are expected to arrive by the end of November this year. The utilization of e-jeepney as environment-friendly and cost-efficient modernized PUV would also be introduced by e-Future Motors PH to other cities such as Iloilo, Cebu and those in Metro Manila, he said.

Chief operating officer Robert Cerrada said they will make Bacolod a model and pilot site for the use of e-jeepneys for public transport in the Philippines, which is the dream of Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez.

“We have talks with operators in other cities, but we are starting in Bacolod. Once everything is in place (in) Bacolod, we can go to other cities and replicate what we have done here in Bacolod,” he said.

Benitez first met with the officials of Jiangsu Fengchuen when he joined President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s state visit to Beijing in January. In July, the mayor and the firm’s chairman Li Longde signed an investment intention agreement during the launching of e-jeepney in the city. (Nanette Guadalquiver)