Francisco Motors, the 79-year-old Philippine company best known for building the iconic jeepney, officially entered the electric vehicle market on July 27, 2026, with the unveiling of the Elektron — a five-door, battery-electric compact crossover SUV with a flagship Deluxe variant priced at ₱1,947,000.
The launch date and the pricing were both deliberate tributes: Francisco Motors was founded in 1947, and the company said in its media invitation that July 27 was chosen to honor the birth anniversary of the late Jorge T. Francisco, whose vision helped shape the company.
Three Variants With Escalating Battery and Range
The Elektron is offered in three configurations. The entry-level Basic variant carries a 54.9-kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery with a claimed range of over 400 kilometers. The mid-tier Fashion steps up to a 63.2-kWh pack rated at more than 500 kilometers.
The flagship Deluxe pairs an 81.5-kWh battery with dual motors and all-wheel drive, promising over 600 kilometers of claimed range, up to 340 kW of power, 640 Nm of torque, a 0-to-100 km/h sprint of 4.3 seconds, and a top speed of 180 km/h. All three variants use a CCS2 charging connection with a listed fast-charge time of 30 minutes, and carry a warranty of up to eight years or 150,000 kilometers, whichever comes first.
Compact Dimensions and Cabin Features
The Elektron measures 4,640 mm long, 1,870 mm wide, and 1,655 mm tall on a 2,760-mm wheelbase. It seats five and offers 450 liters of cargo space. Five exterior colors are available: Moon White, Lemon Yellow, Natron Red, Stellar Black, and Oasis Green.
The interior includes a digital instrument cluster, a central touchscreen, and a center-console rotary controller. Options include ambient lighting, dual-zone air-conditioning, wireless charging, a fixed panoramic roof, and an electronically adjustable driver's seat. Safety equipment includes electronic brake-force distribution, traction control, emergency brake assistance, and a pedestrian alert system, with a broader driver-assistance suite available depending on trim.
Elektron Linked to the Jeepney.io Digital Platform
Francisco Motors is positioning the Elektron as part of a wider digital mobility ecosystem. According to the company, the SUV is supported by DOMENG, an AI co-pilot that links vehicles, customers, partners, and Jeepney.io services — handling reservations, payments, and support requests. Francisco Motors stressed that DOMENG is not an autonomous driving system.
Founder Orbit: 1,947 Reservation Slots at ₱1,947 Each
Reservations opened under the Founder Orbit program, which accepts the first 1,947 sign-ups at a ₱1,947 fee — a direct nod to the company's founding year. Francisco Motors noted, however, that the reservation constitutes an expression of interest only and does not guarantee final vehicle allocation, pricing, or delivery terms.
Significant Caveats Remain at Launch
Prospective buyers face notable uncertainties. According to Francisco Motors' own disclosures, the launch comes with no confirmed Philippine delivery date, no independently validated range figures, and no named platform partner. Every specification disclosed at launch is explicitly provisional and subject to testing and regulatory validation.
The company targets local production of the Elektron by 2028, with a long-term plan to localize parts, components, and final assembly in the Philippines.
Entering a Market Dominated by Chinese and Vietnamese Brands
The Elektron arrives in an increasingly competitive landscape. According to industry data, BYD held 55 percent of Philippine EV market share as of April 2026 after selling 26,122 units in 2025, while VinFast emerged as the top battery-electric vehicle brand among CAMPI-TMA members in early 2026.
Francisco Motors is positioning the Elektron as a Filipino-developed brand entering a segment currently dominated by overseas manufacturers, as the Philippines continues to push electric vehicle adoption under the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act.
By the Numbers
- ₱1,947,000 — price of the flagship Deluxe variant
- ₱1,947 — Founder Orbit reservation fee; limited to 1,947 slots
- 81.5 kWh — battery capacity of the Deluxe variant
- 600+ km — claimed range of the Deluxe variant
- 340 kW / 640 Nm — peak power and torque, Deluxe variant
- 4.3 seconds — claimed 0–100 km/h acceleration, Deluxe
- 30 minutes — listed fast-charge time (all variants)
- 8 years / 150,000 km — warranty coverage
- 450 liters — cargo space
- 55% — BYD's Philippine EV market share as of April 2026
- 26,122 — BYD units sold in the Philippines in 2025
- 2028 — Francisco Motors' target year for local Elektron production
Why This Matters
The Elektron marks the first electric vehicle entry by Francisco Motors, a company that has been central to Philippine road transport for nearly eight decades, signaling a generational shift in its product strategy. The launch places a Filipino-branded EV directly in competition with dominant Chinese and Vietnamese manufacturers in a market the Philippine government is actively developing under the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act. However, with no confirmed delivery date, unvalidated specifications, and a production target not until 2028, the Elektron's commercial impact remains to be tested against an already entrenched field.
Photo credit: Photo courtesy of Francisco Motors