Ford won't revive Fiera

MANILA, Philippines - Ford Group Philippines (FGP) said they will not be reviving the Fiera because it is not part of their business plan to re-launch antiquated models.

The reaction was made in light of the statement made by the Board of Investments (BOI) urging local automobile manufacturers to reissue the Fiera, Harabas and the Tamaraw models for possible export.

“Here in the Philippines we introduce world class products. We do not want to introduce products from 12 years ago,” FGP president Randy Krieger told reporters during the launch of the Ford Fiesta Monday night.

Krieger said that if there is a demand for that type of vehicle in other countries then they will study the matter.

Ford is the only auto manufacturer that exports completely built up (CBU) units to other countries. “Export incentives are very helpful for us,” Krieger said.

“There is a need to make a new export plan,” Krieger said. The BOI has been proposing the creation of the Motor Vehicle Development Plan II (MVDPII) which is specifically for exporters.

FGP produces Focus, Escape and the Mazda III. The local production this year will be 40 percent higher than last year’s.

“We’ve hired additional workers and maximum over time. We are running at full capacity,” Krieger said. Production is at 15,000 units, 10,000 of which are for exports.

“We remain the first and only volume exporter of vehicles from the Philippines. FGP has a track record of success in exporting Ford and Mazda vehicles produced at our Santa Rosa plant to ASEAN markets that include Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia,” he said.

Earlier, the BOI said that local vehicle manufacturers should revive the old Tamaraw and Fiera for export  in order to boost the production of Philippine made vehicles and to attract more investments in the auto industry.

BOI managing head Cristino L. Panlilio said that he is urging local manufacturers to revive the Tamaraw and the Fiera in order to compete with the pick ups.

“This can be the cheaper version of the pick-up. We can sell this to Vietnam, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Africa,” Panlilio, who is also the undersecretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.

Panlilio said that the government and the private sector must work together to push the local car manufacturing because the industry’s manufacturing plants are operating 60 percent below capacity.