Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. (MMPC) is studying the possibility of exporting locally assembled vehicles from its newly acquired plant in Laguna, senior officials of the Japanese automaker told reporters during a visit at its plant in Cainta, Rizal last week.

"We're also looking at export... There is a possibility. We're not limiting it only to the domestic market," said Froilan G. Dytianquin, MMPC marketing vice-president, when asked about plans for the new plant.

Asked which vehicles could be exported, Mr. Dytianquin replied: "We're still studying the models."

MMPC currently assembles the L300 van, the Adventure AUV, and the Lancer EX sedan at its 18-hectare (ha) plant in Cainta, Rizal that has an annual capacity of 30,000 units.

Last March 31st, the company announced it had bought Ford Motor Company Philippines Inc.'s (FMCPI) 21-ha manufacturing facility in Sta. Rosa, Laguna for a still undisclosed amount in a bid to expand production and sales.

Prior to the shutdown of its plant in 2012, FMCPI had exported 80,000 units worth more than US$ 1 billion since 2002. It had shipped the Ford Escape SUV and the Ford Focus compact sedan to other Southeast Asian countries.

Mr. Dytianquin said FMCPI's former plant currently has a capacity of 50,000 units, which can be doubled to 100,000 units by 2020. "We will move next January to the new factory in Sta. Rosa," MMPC President and Chief Executive Officer Hikosaburo Shibata said Mitsubishi's Cainta plant, meanwhile, will be sold, Mr. Dytianquin said but declined to elaborate.

As for sales, MMPC targets to sell 50,000 units this year, 11% more than last year's goal of 45,000 units. Last year, the company sold 43,176 units, 24% more than the 34,915 vehicles recorded in 2012.