08/06/2026
Parking Lot at Ford Philippines Inc. (FPI) Plant in Sucat, Parañaque, Rizal
circa 1970s
Ford Philippines, Inc. (FPI) was a powerhouse in the local auto industry. Backed by the government's Progressive Car Manufacturing Program, FPI famously engineered the affordable, locally-made Ford Fiera. To support this massive boom in vehicle production, Ford invested heavily in state-of-the-art assemply plants. Ford's primary assembly plant was located in Sucat, Parañaque. Established in 1968, this 11-hectare, 182,000-square-foot facility assembled popular passenger cars and trucks like the Ford Cortina, Taunus, and Galaxie. In 1973, Ford broke ground on a massive, $35-million body stamping plant within the Bataan Export Processing Zone (EPZ). Inaugurated in 1976, it was equipped with heavy presses (up to 2,500 tons) to manufacture body panels, supporting both local assembly and regional exports. The early 1970s also saw the government push for an Asian Utility Vehicle (AUV) tailored specifically for Filipino families and rural roads.The Ford Fiera, answering this call, was cheap, tough, and highly modular. Buyers could configure it as a jeepney, delivery van, or pickup truck. It was a massive commercial hit and even saw export success to developing countries like Taiwan. Despite major production numbers, Ford's operations faced mounting economic pressures. Ultimately, the political instability, rising costs of imported parts, and the severe economic crisis in the early 1980s led Ford to unexpectedly cease its Philippine manufacturing operations by 1984.
info: Wikipedia/ Washington Post/ Grokipedia/ Esquire Ph
