Mitsubishi Mirage G4: the first car made by Filipino hands

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) awarded certificates to suppliers for Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) program. The locally assembled Mirage G4 is the first vehicle to be manufactured under the program and was presented to President Rodrigo Duterte, February 27, 2017, in a ceremony at the Malacanan Palace. Also, heading the presentation was Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) president Osamu Masuko.
 
Under this program, the company was granted the opportunity to produce locally made units of some of its vehicles. Already one of the more popular models in the market, producing the Mitsubishi Mirage G4 here is expected to generate job opportunities for both MMPC and local suppliers.
 
Mitsubishi beefed up its Santa Rosa plant for local production. The official start of MMPC’s mass product of the Mirage Hatchback at the said plant will be in May this year. The company aims to manufacturer 20,000 cars by the end of the year and by January 2018. With a stamping plant fully operational in 11 months, it is expected to further boost local content and increase overall production by up to 50 percent.
 
To be more specific, under the CARS Program, MMPC needs to create 200,000 cars in the span of six years. So far, the company has already spent approximately Php 4.3 billion on producing facilities and equipment, which signifies the company’s commitment to the local economy and to the country, seeing the country as an important market.
 
“Under the strong leadership of His Excellency President Duterte, there is a big potential of economic growth in this country”, said MMC president Osamu Masuko. MMPC president and CEO Yoshiaki Kato further added, “The Mirage, now being produced in (the) Santa Rosa plant, brings pride to both MMPC employees and local parts suppliers. As a next challenge, we have to step up our Quality Cost Delivery programs to be competitive with other MMC production facilities”.
 
President Duterte stated “Today, fresh form their plant in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, we’re witnessing the rolling off the first of the 200,000 Mirage cars from Mitsubishi Philippines that will be locally manufactured under the CARS program. Proudly, we can now say that the Mitsubishi Mirage, currently the second top-selling passenger car in the country, is made in the Philippines”.
 
The president also thanked MMPC executives including MMC Chairman and CEO Osama Masuko for the creation of additional jobs to some 7,900 Filipinos and generate estimated Php 5.72 billion. “Because of this collaboration, the first unit of the “Made in the Philippines” Mirage has been manufactured using materials and suppliers from local parts manufacturers and other related local industries in the country”, said Duterte.
 
In term of the planned excise tax adjustment, Duterte assured the local automotive industry that this issue will be given due consideration.
 
 “We will ensure that its impact will be fair and supportive of your growth as participants in the CARS Program,” added Duterte.
 
All in all, MMPC begins a new chapter in its historic and long-standing relationship with the Philippines, it assure Filipinos that it will continue to maintain the top quality of the Mirage and Mirage G4 whether it is assembled in Laguna or anywhere else in the world. So the next time you’re in the market for seeking a small car, you might want to consider something produced by fellow Filipinos.