Built a Nation, Abandoned by It: The Silent Battle of the Jeepney Pioneer

Francisco Motors Corporation (FMC) is one of the country's pioneering jeepney builders. Over the years, FMC transitioned from refurbishing war-era jeeps to designing its iconic models, including its modern electric jeepney launched around 2018. FMC’s modern electric jeep costs around ₱985,000/unit—far cheaper than government-endorsed modern jeepneys priced between ₱1.3 and 3 million. 85% locally built (body, motor, chassis); batteries still imported, but for the first 1000 units only. These modern jeeps are designed with urban routes in mind, offering a 150 km range (approximately five trips) and utilizing 50 kWh batteries, which can be charged via the CCS2 standard.

As add-on options, the package includes modern features: AC, CCTV, GPS, cashless fares, wheelchair ramps for PWDs, speed limiters, and emergency exits—while keeping the classic jeepney aesthetic.

Although FMC produces affordable, culturally resonant units, several obstacles hinder its inclusion in the government’s PUV Modernization Program  (PUVMP), such as the lack of official accreditation from the LTFRB and the DOTR. Francisco Motors is still pursuing this certification to meet the Philippine National Standards, or PNS.

Secondly, FMC's “TsuperHero” program—offering free jeeps and unlimited rides—can't proceed without route memoranda from LTFRB. Francisco’s CEO has criticized the LTFRB for delays in approving permits and for not providing concrete timelines. Also, the FMC’s proposed fare model (flat-rate unli-ride) clashes with LTFRB rules mandating distance-based fares.

Despite government intentions to set aside funds to subsidize co-payments and assist drivers and operators who are having trouble raising cash to update their vehicles, they will still be unable to access these funds without certification and government support. Even with the endorsement of the House of Representatives under Martin Romualdez, compliance remains the guiding factor.

 

Underlying reasons include

• All the "modernized jeepneys," which are actually improvised trucks or mini-buses, are made by foreign businesses. No Filipino manufacturer is on the short list of DOTr-accredited modern jeepney producers.

•A lack of support from foreign partners and governmental power. FMC designed and manufactured their automobiles from the ground up, in contrast to others who simply repackaged kits from Japanese, Chinese, Indian, and Korean sources. This, unfortunately, made it difficult to get swift accreditation from our foreign manufacturer-focused administration. But FMC never stopped trying.

 

Why Francisco Motors E‑Jeeps Matter

Financially accessible
With a price tag under ₱1 million—about a third of some alternatives—it’s within reach of more operators and cooperatives.

Job creation and localization
Built in Bicol’s Camarines Norte economic zone, FMC aims to produce up to 25,000 units annually—creating local manufacturing jobs.

Environmentally impactful
Studies show modern eJeeps drastically cut carbon monoxide, particulate matter, and NOₓ (nitrogen oxides) emissions—key for air quality. FMC’s fully electric model ramps up this benefit.

Cultural preservation
Retaining the iconic “king of the road” design, FMC helps maintain Filipino identity—something foreign-made minibuses lack.

Driver-Operator Friendly Terms
Today, FMC surpasses government accreditation. They’re disrupting the industry again. The Francisco Motors patriarch’s boundary-hulog system gave OFWs and hardworking Filipinos a jeepney, the means to feed their families, and send their kids to school.

The TsuperHero™️ Program, a groundbreaking Francisco Motors innovation, empowers operators and drivers directly. Their initiative offers free PINOY Transporter contemporary jeepneys and ELEKTRON electric/hydrogen fuel cell tricycles to qualified operators and drivers with valid franchises.

They'll provide legitimate public utility drivers who join their TsuperHero Program with free modern autos. Not a loan. It's not a trick. FMC honors their 78-year-old devoted clients by giving back to them.

With Speaker Romualdez publicly championing local PUVs—and Maharlika Investment Corp. involved—policy backing is growing. If barriers are removed, Francisco Motors could spearhead a sustainable, locally sourced, and culturally resonant e-jeepney shift nationwide. Francisco Motors E‑Jeeps matter—they’re affordable, eco-friendly, culturally authentic, and built for Filipinos by Filipinos. But bureaucratic bottlenecks—lack of accreditation, slow permits, misaligned fare systems, and limited subsidies—are holding them back from becoming a mainstream part of jeepney modernization. Solving these issues could unlock massive benefits: cleaner skies, better livelihoods, and a beloved icon reborn for the future.

As a whole, Francisco Motors represents a potential win-win: modern, affordable, local, and culturally protective. But unless certification, clear permit pathways, robust subsidy structures, and charging infrastructure are in place, its impact will remain limited. To the jeepney drivers, FMC hasn't forgotten you. While others profit from their struggles, FMC returns dignity and ownership to your hands. To the Filipino people, Francisco Motors is not just in the past; they are the future of Filipino transport. Cleaner, smarter, and proudly ours.

Video: Francisco Motors Modern Jeepney in action.