Francisco Motors Corp. (FMC), long associated with the iconic jeepney, is positioning itself for a return to relevance through electrification, advancing a USD355-million phased development of the FMC Elektron compact SUV as part of a broader global strategy.
Founder and chairman Elmer Francisco said the company is closely coordinating with the Board of Investments and the Department of Trade and Industry while evaluating the Electric Vehicle Incentive Strategy (EVIS), a policy framework seen as critical to shaping the domestic EV landscape.
Francisco emphasized that participation will hinge on whether EVIS genuinely supports Filipino manufacturers. “We will assess if it has evolved into a pro-Filipino initiative or if it mirrors past programs that favored foreign players,” he said, adding that the company remains cautiously optimistic.
The Elektron program has entered Phase 2 following engineering and validation work in California and China. Pilot fleet production targeting the United States and South America is scheduled for FMC’s Santa Clarita facility in the second half of 2026, while units for ASEAN and African markets will initially be produced in China.
Over the longer term, FMC aims to localize production in the Philippines by Phase 3 and scale up to export-level manufacturing under Phase 4, though Francisco noted that current conditions continue to favor operations in the US and China.
The company’s roadmap covers engineering, validation, importation, local assembly, supplier development, and a nationwide rollout.
Beyond the Elektron, FMC is also developing a wider zero-emission ecosystem that includes electric jeepneys, charging infrastructure, and future hydrogen technologies.
While global partnerships are expected to provide speed and scale, Francisco underscored that the Philippines remains central to FMC’s strategy.
Achieving 1,000 pre-orders could justify local assembly by 2028, a milestone that would mark a significant step in the company’s transition into a global clean mobility player.
