Japanese carmakers reviewing Philippines expansion plans, may move to M'sia

MANILA: Top Japanese automakers in the Philippines are threatening to shift production to cheaper South-East Asian countries, such as Malaysia and Indonesia, as the government drags its feet on a plan to rebuild its shrinking car manufacturing industry.

The potential pullout of production lines by Toyota Motor Corp and Mitsubishi Motors, which have a combined 50,000 vehicle annual capacity in the country, would mean the Philippines could lose more than 1,000 jobs and millions of dollars worth of planned and existing investments.