Shanghai, June 22 (Gasgoo.com) China's leading bus and coach manufacturer Zonda (Zhongda) Motor Group plans to set up an electric car plant in the Philippines both for the ASEAN and local markets, Manila Bulletin reported yesterday.
Jesli A. Lapus, Trade and Industry Secretary of the Philippines, told reporters that he met Zonda's company officials who told him this good news during his recent visit to China for the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the Philippines and China.
Zonda is expected to comply with ASEAN's 40% local content requirement, the threshold level by which a product can be considered ASEAN-made and therefore entitled to national treatment in the Philippines and zero duty when exported to other ASEAN member countries.
"They are coming here to conduct a feasibility study," Lapus said, adding that the company has to study the cost of producing electric cars in the Philippines because this technology has not yet been tested there.
The Filipino government may help Zonda find a local partner for a possible joint venture for its planned electric car project. Zonda was founded in 1994 as a manufacturer of various passenger buses and tourist coaches.
