US firm to build EV plant in PHL

AU N IT e d States-based firm is set to put up the first ever electric motorcycle manufacturing plant in the country, which is expected to “jumpstart the domestic electric vehicle ( e V ) ecosystem.” cual said the partnership between IMI and Zero Motorcycles to manufacture electric motorcycles will “better position” the Philippines as an export manufacturing hub for electric batteries and vehicles in the region.

This after Integrated Microe l ectronics Inc. (IMI) of the aya la Group and California-based Zero Motorcycles (Zero) signed a $65-million memorandum of agreement (MO a ) last Monday for the construction of the said facility in l a guna.

Under the accord, Zero will be responsible for building the facility, while IMI will handle the assembly of its electronic motorcycle models as well as other assemblies in its facility in l a guna in conjunction with the manufacturing facilities for Zero in California.

IMI is also able to provide the charging infrastructures for the said e Vs.

Zero said the deal is part of its efforts to expand globally its manufacturing business.

The IMI-Zero facility is expected to employ 200 workers and produce 18,000 e Vs per year.

It will supply the assembled electric motorcycles to Zero in e u rope, a s ia, and other markets, while supporting US demands for sub-assemblies.

“We thank Zero Motorcycles for their trust. This is considered a historic agreement because it is a pioneering activity involving high-end electric batteries, motors and motorcycle assembly,” Pascual said in a statement on Tuesday.

“With this investment, we will be better positioned as an export manufacturing hub for electric batteries and vehicles in the region.” a c cording to Pascual, this partnership is a “testament to the expertise and capabilities” of the country’s local manufacturing sector. With the enactment of the e l ectric Vehicle Industry d e velopment a c t ( e V I d a ), the government, through the Board of Investments (BOI), an Investment Promotion a g ency (IPa ) under the d T I, aims to “narrow the cost gap” between traditional vehicles and e Vs to increase market demand, according to the d T I.

Further, the law provides for the creation of the e l ectric Vehicle Incentive Strategy that will provide more incentives for e Vrelated investments to help establish an enabling environment for the said sector.

The signing of the landmark deal in Washington d C. was witnessed by President Ferdinand r Marcos Jr., Speaker Martin r o mualdez, Trade Secretary a lf redo Pascual, e n ergy Secretary r a phael l o tilla, Special a s sistant to the President Secretary a n tonio l a gdameo Jr., Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil, and Philippine a m bassador to the US Jose Manuel r o mualdez. ay ala Corp. Chairman Jaime a u gusto Zobel d e ay ala and a ut omotive and Industrial regional manager d a ve Corry represented IMI.

Meanwhile, Zero Motorcycles were represented by its C e O Sam Paschel and a l ex a c ket, chief operating officer. Samuel P. Medenilla and Andrea E. San Juan

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