Manila, Philippines — September 3, 2025 – Francisco Motors, the country’s original and only Filipino-owned automotive manufacturer since 1947, has issued a strong statement against the recently issued RACE Program (Draft JAO No. 01-2025 – DOF-DBM-DTI-BOI Joint Admin Order re RACE Program), calling it a repeat of past foreign-biased policies that sidelined Filipino innovators.
Chairman Elmer Francisco warned that the RACE Program is essentially CARS 2.0, designed to benefit foreign assemblers of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles while leaving Filipino-led clean mobility initiatives without support.
“This is not policy for Filipinos. This is policy for foreigners. Filipino taxpayers should not be forced to subsidize outdated foreign assembly lines while local innovators are excluded.” – Elmer Francisco
Key Points Raised by Francisco Motors
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RACE continues to favor ICE vehicle production, contradicting the Philippines’ climate commitments.
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The 100,000-unit minimum requirement is unrealistic for Filipino manufacturers but tailor-made for foreign conglomerates.
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The program excludes electric jeepneys, hydrogen tricycles, and other Filipino-developed clean mobility solutions.
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₱250 million in taxpayer money will subsidize foreign players instead of empowering Filipino champions.
The Alternative: A Filipino-Led Green Mobility Program
Francisco Motors is calling for a Filipino-exclusive incentive program aligned with the EVIDA law and national climate goals. The proposed framework would:
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Restrict fiscal incentives to Filipino-owned manufacturers;
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Support EVs, hydrogen fuel cells, and sustainable transport technologies;
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Set realistic production thresholds for jeepneys, tricycles, and buses;
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Direct benefits to local SMEs, cooperatives, and communities.
“When our government is ready to support us with actions — not just words — Francisco Motors will be here.” – Elmer Francisco
About Francisco Motors
Founded in 1947, Francisco Motors is the pioneer of the iconic Filipino jeepney. Today, the company is leading the transition to electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles, continuing its legacy of innovation and nation-building.
Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS)
When the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) Program was launched in 2015, it was heralded as a “game-changer” for the Philippine automotive industry. Billions of pesos were allocated, supposedly to uplift our local manufacturing sector.
What happened instead?
The program ended up captured by foreign automotive conglomerates. Filipino-owned manufacturers, innovators, and SMEs were shut out. Taxpayer money subsidized foreign assembly lines while local pioneers like Francisco Motors were left with nothing.
Fast forward to 2025.
The government now rolls out the so-called Revitalizing Automotive Competitiveness Enhancement (RACE) Program under JAO No. 01-2025. But peel back the jargon, and you’ll see it for what it really is:
CARS 2.0 — another foreign subsidy program dressed up as “competitiveness.”
What’s Wrong with RACE
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It locks fiscal support into internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, a sunset technology the world is already moving away from.
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It demands an unrealistic 100,000-unit minimum — tailor-made for multinational car assemblers, but impossible for Filipino manufacturers.
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It excludes electric vehicles, hydrogen mobility, and Filipino-led clean technology — the very future of transport.
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It puts ₱250 million of Filipino taxpayers’ money back into the pockets of foreign players, while Filipino innovators get scraps.
This is not policy for Filipinos. This is policy for foreigners.
The Filipino Alternative
At Francisco Motors, we have been building Filipino-made mobility since 1947. We pioneered the jeepney — a cultural icon turned workhorse of the nation. Today, we are building the next generation: electric jeepneys, hydrogen tricycles, and clean buses designed for our people, by our people.
We don’t need subsidies for outdated ICE assembly lines. We need real support for Filipino innovation.
That’s why we propose a new framework:
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A Filipino-Led Green Mobility Program, exclusive to Filipino-owned companies.
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Incentives tied to EVs, hydrogen fuel cells, and clean technologies aligned with our climate goals.
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Scaled production thresholds that match local realities — not foreign mega-plants.
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Fiscal support directed at Filipino SMEs, cooperatives, and manufacturers, not foreign conglomerates.
The Stakes
If the government insists on RACE as written, we risk another lost decade — billions of pesos poured into foreign-owned factories, while Filipino innovators are once again sidelined.
But if we redirect these resources to support Filipino champions, we can:
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Create thousands of local jobs;
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Build a self-reliant automotive ecosystem;
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Lead Asia in electric and hydrogen mobility;
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Ensure that every peso of taxpayer money strengthens the Filipino economy, not foreign balance sheets.
A Call to Action
Congress must not allow history to repeat itself. The Filipino people must demand better.
It’s time for our leaders to prove that their words about “supporting Filipino-made modern jeepneys” are more than just rhetoric.
When our government is ready to support us with actions — not just words — Francisco Motors will be here.
For media inquiries:
info@franciscomotors.com
