THE LOCAL UNIT OF JAPANESE auto giant Isuzu Corp. plans to export Asian utility vehicles (AUV) assembled in the Philippines to Central America, according to local officials.

Isuzu Philippines Corp. (IPC) president Keiji Takeda earlier this week said countries like Guatemala and Costa Rica, where demand is strong and emission standards are lax, have emerged as ideal export markets for locally-made cars.

?We have several quotations to export to Central America. We?re just waiting for the reply of their respective governments,? Takeda told reporters.

?We sent sample units there and now we?re just waiting for their approval,? he said.

In particular, the company plans to ship out its local bestseller Crosswind AUV model across the Pacific.

As early as 2008, Takeda said IPC had already sent sample Crosswind units to both Guatemala and Costa Rica. Last year?s financial meltdown, however, placed the discussions on hold.

?We?re always looking for opportunities to export our products,? Takeda said.

Isuzu used to export car components like body panels and interior seat posts to Vietnam, but Takeda said this was stopped due the Vietnamese government?s decision to hike excise taxes on imported goods in the middle of last year.

?Our export operations amounted to only 1 percent of our revenues so it was not that big,? Takeda said.

Last year, the company sold about 9,400 cars in the Philippines.

About 45 percent of these sales were attributed to the Crosswind, the company?s most popular model.

This year, Takeda said IPC had set a goal of selling 10,500 units in the Philippines.

?But personally, I?ve requested a higher target of 11,000,? Takeda said, or a year-on-year increase of 17 percent.

Except for its flagship Alterra sports utility vehicle, which makes up only a small portion of the company?s local sales, all Isuzu cars sold in the Philippines are locally made.