The Philippine automotive recycling sector marked a major milestone as En Tsumugi ELV Dismantling Corporation celebrated its second anniversary by announcing a significant expansion into full-scale electric vehicle battery recovery and recycling.

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Operating out of Mexico, Pampanga, under its vehicle disposal brand Garaheco, En Tsumugi was established as the country’s first Japan-standard model End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) dismantling facility. Over its first two years of operation, the plant has successfully processed 516 units from across the country, managing everything from commercial vehicle fleets to complex, damaged electric vehicles requiring specialized handling.

The facility's newly announced expansion focuses on establishing local capabilities to recover high-value raw materials from used lithium-ion batteries across the automotive, consumer electronics, and appliance sectors. By introducing advanced black mass processing technology, the plant will be able to extract and process critical minerals including lithium, copper, nickel, manganese, and cobalt locally.

The equipment installation will roll out in three phases, targeted for completion by the end of 2026, with commercial battery recycling services scheduled to open to all automotive manufacturers, fleet operators, and industry partners by early 2027.

Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) has been a key partner of En Tsumugi, providing technical and key guidance on its processes. TMP says it has sold over 60,000 electrified vehicles under the Toyota and Lexus brands in the Philippines since 2009, citing the urgent need to manage and recover batteries safely and efficiently.

"Toyota’s responsibility is not only to make and sell vehicles, but also to take responsibility for them at the end of their useful lives," said Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation (TMP) president Masando Hashimoto, highlighting the necessity of buildouts like En Tsumugi. "As energy security becomes an urgent concern, the shift toward electrified mobility will accelerate, and we must strengthen our ability to manage batteries safely and recover valuable resources responsibly."

To support the initiative, En Tsumugi key personnel underwent specialized international training early in 2026 covering electrified vehicle battery safety and resource recovery protocols.

Alongside physical recycling infrastructure, En Tsumugi also debuted a proprietary digital software platform designed to manage disassembled vehicle parts and recycling loops. The digital tracking system offers real-time online visibility for recovered materials from initial intake through final end-use processing, ensuring full data transparency and traceability across the entire recycling chain.

Supported by industry organizations including the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the facility aims to establish a sustainable circular economy that supports all motoring brands and vehicle owners as the country accelerates its transition toward electrified mobility.