Chevrolet, Ford eye more U.S.-made cars amid proposed zero tariffs
US automotive giants Chevrolet and Ford are mulling over importing more cars made in the United States to the Philippines.
This comes after Malacanang announced last week, following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House, that the government is considering removing all tariffs on medicine, soy, wheat and cars that are manufactured in the United States.
Tariffs are taxes imposed on imported products as a means to protect local manufacturers. The Trump administration has been aggressively negotiating for lower tariffs against U.S-made products, while revamping tariffs for products imported from its global trading partners.
All-new models
Chevrolet Philippines said it will import various cars built in the United States once the implementing rules and regulations are finalized.
“Traverse, Equinox, they will be here, all the North American models,” said Maria Fe Perez-Agudo, vice chair, president and CEO of local Chevrolet distributor Hariphil Asia Resources Inc. at the sidelines of the Chevrolet Groove launch on Wednesday.
“We can bring them in now, but with the implementation of the new zero tariffs, we just have to be a little bit patient because the prices will surely be affordable,” she added. “There will be a process that we have to follow, but what we hope is that an Executive Order signed by our President will happen soon.”
As of press time, the Tahoe and Suburban sport-utility vehicles, the Camaro muscle car and the Corvette supercar are imported from the United States. Perez-Agudo said she expects the current prices of these models to go down by as much as 30 percent once the tariffs are lifted.
She added that the company is also looking to the U.S. for entries into the local electrified-vehicle market, which enjoys reduced import duties under Executive Order No. 12.
“We have the Corvette EV, we have the Equinox EV, so most of their models are already moving into that space,” Perez-Agudo said. “Chevrolet wants to be the number-one automotive brand in the world for electrification.”
Wait and see
Meanwhile, Ford Philippines managing director Pedro Simoes said they are also waiting for an Executive Order from Malacanang to understand exactly how the tariff-free imports would work.
“Obviously, it is a positive measure that can really help the importation of vehicles from the U.S.,” he told Inquirer Mobility in an exclusive interview.
“We will continue monitoring and we will see what makes sense for us to offer in the market,” Simoes added. “Will some smaller segments today be larger and bring in more customers?”
As of press time, Ford Philippines imports the Explorer, Mustang and Bronco from the United States. The forthcoming Mustang Mach-E battery-electric vehicle is also made there and will be covered by zero import duties under Executive Order No. 12.
