Toyota Motor Philippines has achieved a milestone for the next-generation Tamaraw. This comes after TMP president Masando Hashimoto announced that the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has officially granted the Tamaraw the “Modern PUV” certification.

You read right, the next-generation Tamaraw, which is proudly built and manufactured at TMP's Sta. Rosa plant in Laguna joins the ranks of trusted public utility vehicles (PUVs) that serve Filipino commuters.

“This milestone lays the groundwork for our vision of making Tamaraw a true 'National Car'. It really feels like the beginning of an exciting new chapter,” said Hashimoto.

The executive added that TMP will keep working hard to sustain its complete knock-down (CKD) operations in the Philippines, as well as to better serve the public transport sector with reliable commercial vehicles. Moreover, this serves as a testament to Toyota Motor Philippines as it takes a major step in offering modern mobility solutions to Filipinos nationwide.

“As we approach TMP’s 38th anniversary this August, we’re more determined than ever to build ever-better cars with a strong 'nation-building' spirit at the core of what we do,” added Hashimoto.

While photos of the modern PUV version of the next-generation Tamaraw are not yet available, TMP did show a prototype version of a modern PUV back in 2023 during the brand's 35th anniversary. It has side-facing seats, a power-sliding door, and a stepboard for easier ingress and egress.

With the Tamaraw now certified as a modern PUV, expect to see the workhorse ferrying Filipino commuters in the near future.