Tesla appears to be gearing up for a new venture into the Philippine automotive market. Recent job postings on Tesla’s Careers website suggest that the company is preparing to make a move in the Philippines.
The listings include several key positions based in Manila, such as a Leads Generation Program Manager, Store Manager, Service Manager, and Delivery Manager. There are also openings related to vehicle parts and services. All these positions are located in Taguig, a prominent district in Manila known for its high-end business and shopping areas, including Bonifacio Global City.
The electric vehicle market in the Philippines is still developing. Most cars sold in the country are traditional internal combustion engines, with hybrid vehicles only recently gaining popularity. Battery electric vehicles (EVs) are still relatively rare.
Currently, the Philippine EV market includes affordable options like the Cherry QQ Ice Cream (known locally as the Jetour Ice Cream EV), mid-range models such as the BYD Atto 3, and luxury vehicles like the Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron GT. While a few Teslas have been imported privately, there are no official Tesla dealerships yet.
For Tesla to succeed in the Philippines, it will need to address and overcome longstanding misconceptions about electric vehicles. If it manages to do so, Tesla could establish a significant presence in a growing automotive market that saw 441,000 vehicle sales in 2023.