An interesting bit of news has just been uncovered by the Indonesian publication otodriver.com, where the publication claims in an article that the Mitsubishi Xpander and Nissan Livina could be locally made in the near future.
Mitsubishi Xpander and Nissan Livina to be made in PH?
The article further states that this might happen because of ‘compensation’ in the form of the L300 production system. Before, the L300 used to be made and produced by Mitsubishi Motor Philippines (MMPC) for other markets including Indonesia, but recently L300 production for Indonesia has been moved there as well.
The ‘secret source’ of otodriver.com claims that “Because then the production was asked to be moved to Indonesia, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines asked for compensation by producing the New Nissan Livina and also the Mitsubishi Xpander.” Apart from that the secret source has not stated anything else.
In Indonesia, both the Livina and the Xpander are jointly produced in the same factory, that’s because both cars share more or less the same components. Furthermore, in a statement made around February of this year, DTI had urged the brand to bring in the assembly of the Xpander to the Philippines.
If this article proves to be true then that would be a boost to the local automotive production industry that has been fledgling and trying its best to keep up with our ASEAN neighbors.