Mitsubishi Motor Philippines Corp. (MMPC) is gearing up for its "plant of the future" at its new location beginning January 2015, in Greenfield Automotive Park in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

Dante Santos, first vice president of MMPC, said on the sidelines of the opening of the 5th Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS) at the World Trade Centre on September 18th that the company will make major announcements in January for the integration of all its operations in the new location, including a new model to be produced locally.

Although the cost of total investment for the new plant has yet to be finalised, Santos described the new site as a "modern plant" where it "a lot more can be done."

"You'll be surprised," said Santos, adding that the plant is geared for maximum productivity to meet increased volumes both for local requirements and even exports.

Officials are still mum on what new model will be produced locally but said the Philippines is one of the good candidates for a new model due to productivity and its economic performance. "A special committee is doing that (studying what model to be produced)," said Santos.

Froilan Dytianquin, MMPC vice president for marketing, said the model could either be a car of or a commercial vehicle depending on the outcome of the automotive roadmap. He said it would take six months to a year before the company would actually start production of the new model from the time it makes a decision.

The amount of investment would also vary, depending if it is an entirely new model or an existing one.

This came as Mitsubishi earlier this week announced it was investing US$ 600 million to build a factory and develop a new car in Indonesia.

At present, MMPC is producing the Adventure, L-300 vans and the Lancer passenger car in Cainta. It will stop assembling the Lancer when it moves to Sta. Rosa in January and will be importing the model from Japan. The company imports the Pajero and trucks from Japan and the Mirage G4, Montero Sport and Strada from Thailand.

"This is why we are awaiting the automotive roadmap because that will dictate the Philippine pattern for supporting the automotive industry. Our investments are patterned on the roadmap," Santos said.

MMPC is still finishing up the plant in time for the ribbon-cutting ceremonies in January next year, moving some of the equipment from the Cainta facility. Santos said the company would then start capacity-planning.

MMPC has also set up a special committee that would sell the 18-hectare plant as one lot. The value of the plant as well as the facilities and building is also being determined.

Santos said MMPC hopes to dispose the land and facilities in Cainta by the first quarter of 2015 at the latest. "That is designed as a manufacturing plant but it depends on how the buyer would use it," he added.