Pakistani automaker Sazgar Engineering Works Limited has opened its first overseas vehicle assembly plant in the Philippines, marking an expansion of the company’s manufacturing operations into Southeast Asia.
Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. inaugurated the facility on 29 October 2026 in Biñan City, in the province of Laguna.
The plant will assemble passenger and commercial three-wheelers powered by both electric and petrol engines. It has an annual assembly capacity of about 12,000 vehicles.
The expansion gives Sazgar a manufacturing presence outside Pakistan for the first time, with the Philippines operation intended to serve as a regional hub for Southeast Asian markets.
Electric vehicles are expected to account for 60% of the facility’s initial production, while petrol-powered models will make up the remaining 40%.
According to the Philippine president, the electric three-wheelers can travel between 100 and 210 kilometres on a single charge, depending on the battery configuration. A full charge takes an estimated six to eight hours.
The facility is also expected to support local suppliers by increasing the use of locally manufactured components, including batteries, glass, seats and rubber products.
The new operation, Sazgar Philippines Inc., is 60% Filipino-owned. The Embassy of Pakistan in the Philippines facilitated the company’s expansion.
Based in Lahore, Sazgar has been manufacturing vehicles for more than three decades. It already exports three-wheelers and automotive components to more than 20 countries, including Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka and Nigeria.
The Philippine plant represents a shift from exporting vehicles to establishing an overseas assembly operation.
The development marks a new stage for Sazgar as it seeks to increase its presence in international markets.
It also provides the company with a manufacturing base in Southeast Asia, where it plans to assemble vehicles for regional customers.
