President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. during the launch of Tesla Philippines on Jan. 20, 2025. PCO

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on Monday welcomed the entry of American electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Tesla Inc. to the Philippines, calling it a step "towards a more environment-friendly transportation system" in the country.

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He also called it a “significant step in the fight against climate change,” as he led the official launch of the Tesla Center Philippines at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

“While it is true that electric vehicles are currently seen as premium products, Tesla’s entry into the Philippine [market] signals much more than high-tech cars on the road. It is a step – a very significant step forward to our long-term transformation towards a more environment-friendly transportation system,” Marcos said.

The President said Tesla’s decision to invest in the Philippines “is a recognition of the nation’s potential, underpinned by forward-thinking policies and a collective determination to innovate.”

"Tesla, thank you for believing in the Philippines. Your investment in the country extends beyond transportation and infrastructure; it is in the people and potential of the country,” he said during the official launch of the Tesla Center Philippines at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

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He noted the government’s adoption of strategic measures that reflect the government’s “commitment to enhancing sustainable transportation while meeting the needs of our communities.”  

These include the removal of excise taxes on batteries of electric vehicles under the TRAIN Law, the removal of tariffs on pure electric or hybrid four-wheel and motorcycle EVs until 2028, and the implementation of the Comprehensive Roadmap for the Electric Vehicle Industry, which aims to achieve a 50 percent electric vehicles market share in the Philippines by 2040 under a clean energy scenario.

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“As Tesla lays the groundwork, and as we invest in infrastructure and implement policies supporting the industry, competition will grow. Then, what may seem as aspirational today – half of the vehicles in our streets as EVs – will become attainable tomorrow,” he said.

Marcos meanwhile expressed hope that Tesla might one day manufacture its electric vehicles in the country, as he noted that a more conducive and empowering environment is now taking shape for the EV industry here. 

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“More than helping environmental sustainability, Tesla also empowers our workforce. Every hire represents an investment in the Filipino talent that will drive this transition forward. With plans to expand further, Tesla is building a generation of Filipinos equipped to lead in the global shift towards sustainable technologies such as this,” he said.

The Philippines is Tesla’s 4th market in the ASEAN region after Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia.

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