Mitsubishi to produce Euro4 compliant L300

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. (MMPC) said it will continue producing the popular L300 (cab and chassis) using a Euro4 engine as it can plans to participate in the government’s PUV Modernization Program.

MMPC Vice President Froilan Dytianquin said the existing 30-year-old L300 will be phased out starting 2018 but they will be producing again this model with the Euro4-compliant engines after one and half years.

“L300 will make a come back as Euro 4 after one and a half years given the development period by which to come up with the new engine,” he said.

Only the Philippines and Indonesia are producing the L300 model, which are being used for school buses, shuttle vans, and other uses for entrepreneurs. It has a considerable huge market of 1,500 units for the Philippines and 3,000 units for Indonesia.

Dytianquin said MMPC can still catch up with the PUV Modernization Program as they are eyeing to qualify under the Class 1 (minimum 9 and maximum 22 passengers). The government is prioritizing the modernization for Class 2 (more than 22 passengers, with standing), and Class 3 (more than 22 passengers, all seated).

While the existing L300 with Euro2 engine is already due for phase out next year, Dytianquin said they can still continue to produce as long as they are able to submit all the certificate of stock report needed for registration by end of December 2017.

This means they can still continue to sell and produce beyond 2018. This will also give them time to transition while still awaiting for the Euro4 engine for the L300.

Also due for phase out this year is MMPC’s Asian utility vehicle Adventure, which is only produced in the Philippines. This will be replaced by an MPV model from Indonesia.

The new MPV, with no name yet, will be produced in the new Mitsubishi plant in Indonesia. The new Montero look-alike will be revealed in August this year.