Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) said it fully utilized production capacity of its Sta. Rosa, Laguna assembly plant in 2025 and will continue expanding its completely knocked down (CKD) assembly operations this year while pushing for improvements in the domestic automotive manufacturing environment.
“It’s 100 percent fully utilized,” confirmed TMP Vice President Jose Maria Atienza in a chance interview during a press conference on Thursday, January 29.
This, Atienza said, is why he is advocating for improvements in the local automotive production environment. He noted that the industry can work with the government through programs such as RACE (Revitalizing the Automotive Industry for Competitiveness Enhancement), an incentive initiative intended to replicate the CARS (Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy) program, although its guidelines have yet to be released.
“We grew up in this industry when manufacturing was the main source. But of course, we understand that yes, there’s trade liberalization, but there should also be some merit in local manufacturing. There should be,” he said.
Atienza, who also heads the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI), added that even after achieving the 200,000-unit volume requirement for CARS participants, TMP will continue producing the Vios model.
“We still continue producing Vios, it’s our biggest production volume. We’re still filling up demand for Vios,” he said.
CKD assembly
In an earlier presentation, TMP Senior Vice President for Marketing Sherwin Chua-Lim reported that the company’s CKD production reached 63,803 units in 2025—six percent higher than in 2024, marking the highest production volume in TMP’s history.
The Vios accounted for 43.44 percent of total CKD output, followed by the Tamaraw at 30.32 percent and the Avanza at 26.24 percent. For the Tamaraw, TMP has produced six variants: ambulance, telco van, race vehicle, drop-side, utility van, and aluminum cargo. Tamaraw production in 2025 was also six percent higher than in 2024.
The company has also continued to expand its in-house conversion capabilities to better respond to market needs. Through these locally produced models, TMP supports key sectors such as healthcare, telecommunications, logistics, and motorsports, benefiting both MSMEs and individual customers.
“This milestone reflects the potential of the Philippine automotive manufacturing and the role TMP plays in sustaining it,” said Chua Lim.
In fact, he said, “Local sourcing for CKD model production reached PHP17 billion, stimulating the domestic supply chain.”
Ultimately, he said, TMP’s CKD operations go beyond production numbers. They are about building local expertise, showcasing Filipino craftsmanship, and supporting nation-building.
New model launches
Complementing its CKD assembly operations, TMP will launch five new models this year: the Urban Cruiser, RAV4, LC300 HEV, Land Cruiser FJ, and HiLux.
In 2025, the company’s top-selling Toyota models were the Vios with 27,811 units sold, followed by the Avanza with 24,704 units and the HiLux with 23,735 units. For Lexus, the top-selling models were the NXh, RXh, and LMh.
Overall, Toyota and Lexus sold a combined 229,447 units last year, or 5.2 percent higher than in 2024, allowing the company to capture a 45-percent share of the domestic market.
TMP President Masando Hashimoto said the company is diligently expanding Toyota’s and Lexus’ reach across the country. He noted that the Lexus QC Gallery, which broke ground last December, and the new Toyota Antipolo dealership announced this month are set to strengthen the brand’s connection with customers by providing the best care for them and their vehicles.
