LIPA CITY (PIA) — The country’s first electric jeepney (e-jeepney) assembly plant has opened in Lima Park in Lipa City, Batangas.
Owned by the LCS Group of Companies and its South Korean partner Electric Mobility ON (EMON), the factory aims to produce low-cost, environmentally friendly electric jeepneys to help drivers and operators cope with the high costs of other modernized vehicles.
Each modern e-jeepney unit is priced at ₱1.2 million which is lower than the usual ₱2.5 million to ₱3 million price range in the market.
This initiative is a result of the collaboration between the LCS Group and EMON, which designed the 27-seater e-jeepney, combining modern technology with the iconic Filipino jeepney design.
With this lower cost, the LCS Group said, drivers are expected to recover their investment within two to three years. The company added that it targets to produce 500 units monthly, with plans to scale up based on demands.
The plant is also expected to provide jobs and livelihood opportunities to around 80 workers, with future expansion planned in the Visayas and Mindanao regions.
The factory is currently awaiting franchise approval from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to officially deploy e-jeepneys for public transport services.
In an interview with Maj. Gen. Rudolph Dimas, regional director of LTRB IV-A, the establishment of the assembly plant will create a nice atmosphere and good competition between companies offering e-jeepney.
“This is the first manufacturing company in the Philippines. It is eco-friendly and cheaper for the price of ₱1.2 million each unit compared to the ₱2.5- ₱4 million worth from others offering the same . It is very advantageous to the operators since the said company noted that in two or three years time they will be able to get back their capital,” Dimas noted.
He also mentioned that they have conducted initial coordinations and meetings with the company and requested that a unit of this e-jeepney be tested in Tagaytay with the operators to see if the units produced can traverse high slopes or terrain.
The LCS Group and EMON are engaging with different banks for possible tie-ups on the processing of loans of operators. (MPDC-PIA Batangas)
