President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is stepping up the government’s push to develop a homegrown electric vehicle industry, with Filipino-made electric tricycles expected to come first and locally produced electric jeepneys potentially following.
During a visit to MD Juan Enterprises Inc. in Caloocan City on August 25, 2026, Marcos said the government would support the company’s efforts to develop fully Filipino-made electric vehicles. The 60-year-old company is known for manufacturing machine-pressed metal parts for military and civilian jeepneys.
“We already know what needs to be done,” Marcos said, expressing confidence that the Philippines could soon produce its own electric tricycle and eventually its own electric jeepney.
From imported EVs to Filipino-made vehicles
The administration’s push comes as the Philippines tries to reduce its dependence on imported petroleum products while building a stronger domestic automotive manufacturing sector.
Marcos said locally manufactured electric vehicles could help make the economy more resilient by reducing reliance on imported fuel while protecting the livelihoods of public transport drivers.
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is expected to provide technical assistance, equipment support and technology partnerships. DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. said MD Juan had actually produced electric tricycles in 2013 and 2014, but the project eventually stopped because demand for EVs was still weak at the time.
That situation has changed.
According to Solidum, higher energy prices have increased interest in electric mobility, but locally produced EV supply has not kept pace with potential demand. DOST is therefore looking to connect manufacturers such as MD Juan with universities developing electric-vehicle technologies.
The bigger plan: build the industry in the Philippines
The government’s latest announcement is part of a broader EV strategy.
On July 29, Marcos signed Executive Order No. 121, creating the Electric Vehicle Incentive Strategy (EVIS) Program. The program is designed to encourage companies to manufacture electric and hybrid vehicles and their components in the Philippines through time-bound, performance-based fiscal incentives.
The incentive package has been described by government agencies as worth up to P60 billion, with support aimed at attracting major investments into domestic EV production. Qualified manufacturers can receive incentives tied to investments and production, while the program also seeks to generate quality jobs and establish the Philippines as a regional automotive manufacturing hub.
This means the administration is not simply looking at importing more electric vehicles. The larger ambition is to develop the manufacturing ecosystem behind them—from vehicle assembly and components to technology, charging infrastructure and skilled workers.
Why e-jeepneys could be the bigger test
For the Philippines, locally made electric jeepneys could have an especially significant impact because jeepneys remain a major part of the country’s public transportation system.
But producing enough units locally remains a challenge.
Earlier discussions on domestic jeepney manufacturing highlighted concerns over production capacity. Local manufacturers have faced difficulty producing enough vehicles quickly enough to meet the scale of the country’s modernization requirements.
That is why the government’s partnership with manufacturers and universities could become critical. DOST says it wants industry partners capable of bringing technologies developed by Filipino researchers into mass production and, ultimately, lowering costs for commuters and transport operators.
Charging infrastructure is another piece of the puzzle
The transition to electric transportation will require more than simply building vehicles.
DOST is also working on EV charging technologies, including conventional charging stations, solar-powered chargers and battery-swapping systems. The agency is collaborating with universities and other institutions on projects ranging from electric tricycles to electric boats and ferries.
One example is the Filipino-engineered all-electric e-tranvia unveiled in Intramuros earlier this year. Developed through cooperation involving DOST, the University of the Philippines and Cagayan State University, the vehicle demonstrates how government, universities and local technology developers can work together on Philippine-designed electric transportation.
What happens next?
The immediate target appears to be an expanded production capability for Filipino-made electric tricycles.
From there, the government hopes to build enough industrial capacity, technology and market demand to move toward locally manufactured electric jeepneys.
The challenge will be turning prototypes and government-backed projects into affordable, reliable vehicles that can be produced at scale.
If successful, the initiative could mean more than cleaner transportation. It could create a new Philippine manufacturing industry, generate jobs, strengthen local suppliers and reduce the country’s exposure to imported fuel.
But the biggest question remains: Can the Philippines produce enough affordable electric vehicles fast enough to transform public transportation?
That will determine whether the “Filipino-made EV” push becomes a major industrial breakthrough—or remains another promising technology program that struggles to reach mass adoption.
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