Toyota rolls out new press line worth P1B

Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. (TMP) inaugurated earlier this week its P1-billion high-technology press line, which was used to make the largest part of the locally produced Vios model.

TMP said the press line featured a 1600-ton servo-type press machine with automated sheet feeder and unloader robot.

This marks the start of local production for side member panels—TMP’s single largest localization project under the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) Program.

The CARS program provides perks to participating car companies to produce 200,000 units within six years. It has two registered participants,  TMP and Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp.

Side member panels are the largest body shell parts of a car and require high level of accuracy and quality forming because of their many contact points with other parts of the vehicle body.

Investment in servo press technology was necessary to enable localization of side member panels. Compared to mechanical press currently used for metal stamping, servo-type press offers high level of accuracy, better formability and improved repeatability.

TMP is the first to utilize this press technology in the local automotive industry.

“We mark another milestone not only for TMP but for the Philippine automotive manufacturing industry as well. We now have the capability to produce the largest body shell part with high productivity, better energy efficiency and lower maintenance costs,” TMP president Satoru Suzuki said during the inaugural ceremony for the press line.

The servo press line beefs up TMP’s in-house parts production capability.

The new line has an annual production capacity of 66,000 units and complements TMP’s existing mechanical press line and out-house press parts production.

With the localization of side member panels, TMP has achieved 58 percent localization of total body shell weight for the New Vios, which is more than the CARS requirement of 50 percent.

TMP also established a P700-million resin injection moulding facility in 2017 to support its localization for CARS. This facility has an annual production capacity of 66,000 units and currently produces bumpers and instrument panels for the New Vios.

TMP’s CARS investments had already hit P5.38 billion as of May 2019. Its participating model, the New Vios, remains the best-selling passenger car in the country.