By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
Consistent with the administration’s thrust towards sustainable mobility, the government continues to express its support for enterprises that share the same passion towards eco-friendly transportation solutions.
This, as President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. visited the manufacturing and assembly plant of Sazgar Philippines Inc. in Biñan, Laguna on Thursday.
The event began with a comprehensive walkthrough of the plant’s assembly line, a briefing on how electric tricycles are built, and a brief test drive of one of the fully-assembled electric tricycles.
President Marcos Jr. said Sazgar’s electric three-wheelers can travel 100 to 210 kilometers on a single charge, potentially covering tricycle drivers’ daily routes in both urban and provincial areas.
These tricycles may take six to eight hours to fully charge, but it completely makes up for the significantly reduced dependence on gasoline for tricycle drivers, which would enable them to retain more of their earnings to support their families.
The Chief Executive likewise noted that this sizable investment can help boost the domestic manufacturing sector, generate jobs, and help keep the country on track to achieve its target of a 50% EV share in the vehicle fleet by 2040.
The Sazgar Philippines facility in Laguna is the first facility established by the firm outside Pakistan, with a long-term vision of serving as a primary manufacturing hub for Southeast Asia.
Composed of 60% Filipino ownership, the facility has an annual assembly capacity of approximately 12,000 three-wheeled vehicles, including electric and internal combustion engine models. (with report from Clay Pardilla | PTV News)
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