A ceremony will be held in the grounds of Asian Transmission Corporation, Canlubang, Laguna, Philippines, on Thursday January 29, starting at 10 am, to mark the completion of the company's new factory and ATC's 25th anniversary. ATC is Mitsubishi Motors' local engine and transmission production affiliate in the Philippines.

The ceremony will be attended by some 200 people, including Mitsubishi Motors president Katsuhiko Kawasoe, Nissho Iwai Corp. president Masatake Kusamichi, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) president Makoto Maeda and ATC president Shigeki Ogawa as well as government officials and representatives of local suppliers and dealers.

ATC was established in January 1973 by Chrysler Philippines (40% equity share), Mitsubishi Motors (30%) and Nissho Iwai (30%) to produce automobile components with the aim of increasing local content and earning foreign currency in line with the government's policy of promoting localization of the automobile industry. (Current equity shares: MMPC 79.4%, MMC 5.3%, Nissho Iwai 5.3%, Other interests 10%). Construction of a factory in Canlubang, Laguna began in July 1973, and production of manual transmissions at the factory started in July 1974. This was later followed by the start of engine and of axle assembly operations in June 1991 and in February 1995 respectively. The company celebrates its 25th anniversary in January this year.

ATC's business lines currently include the machining and assembly of manual transmissions and the assembly of engines and axles. These components are supplied to vehicle producer MMPC where they are fitted to Mitsubishi automobiles. ATC also ships manual transmissions (finished products and gears) to Thailand (exports started in August 1982), as well as gears and other parts to Japan (exports started in December 1974) for use in Mitsubishi models built in these two countries.

Growth in demand in the Philippines and in exports to the countries of Asia and ASEAN brought about the need for greater production capacity and ATC began construction of a new factory on the Carmelray Industrial Estate, close to the present factory, at the start of 1996. The present factory machined totals of 174,632 and 176,010 transmissions and gears in 1996 and 1997 respectively. The new factory, to which all production will be transferred, will raise the company's machining capacity from 216,000 to 294,000 units a year.

Shipping finished transmissions and gears to the Philippine market as well as expanding exports to Thailand, Japan, Taiwan and Indonesia, ATC may be expected to play a major role as the main supplier of transmissions to Mitsubishi Motors overseas operations.

ATC Corporate Profile

Production figures (units)