In Southeast Asia, where two- and four-wheeled private vehicles are not yet sufficiently widespread, public taxis numbering more than 10 million in number serve as the primary means of transportation for residents. However, most of the taxis currently in use are old vehicles with old engines, and their excessive exhaust gases create heavy air pollution. Moreover, many of these vehicles do not comply with safety standards or meet necessary inspection and maintenance requirements, leading to breakdowns that exacerbate traffic congestion.

Road conditions in Philippines

Road conditions in Philippines

Road conditions in Philippines

Economic development is moving forward at a rapid pace in many Southeast Asian countries, particularly those with strong ties to China, and these nations have encountered problems with air pollution, infrastructure decline and insufficiencies, and other such issues. In response, awareness has been rising in regard to environmentally friendly vehicles, which include electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), as well as other vehicles that comply with engine standards such as Euro5. The various countries are accelerating efforts toward legal reforms to provide subsidies and so forth to promote the spread of such vehicles.

Amid such changes, we believe there is strong demand for the introduction of eco-friendly vehicles in the taxi market. In 2012, we began development of E-TRIKE low-speed EVs with the aims of improving local environments and creating new employment opportunities, and in 2013 we completed the initial prototype vehicle. That same year, we became the first Japanese company to acquire a vehicle license plate number in the Philippines for a three-wheeled electric vehicle, and began conducting repeated local road tests.

Road conditions in Philippines	Prototype vehicle	Test driving
Computer analysis of the frame	Computer analysis of the frame

In November 2014, we completed development of the 68VM production model, and initiated mass production of this vehicle.

Mass production type “68VM”

Production line

Completed vehicle

We secured a joint order in January 2016 from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Philippine Department of Energy (DOE) for a project to provide 3,000 three-wheeled EVs.  We have also joined other projects including a Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) E-TRIKE dissemination and verification project in Quezon City (Philippines), New Energy an Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) MaaS (Mobility as a Service) verification test and etc.

 As October of 2022 over 4,000 vehicles are in use.

Parade at the University of the Philippines

Operating vehicle in Boracay