Francisco Motors (FMC), best known for its role in shaping the iconic jeepney, is entering the electric vehicle market with its first fully electric passenger vehicle, the Elektron SUV.
That’s right. The jeepney maker is now an EV vehicle manufacturer. The company has officially unveiled its battery-electric compact SUV, moving from its roots in public utility vehicles to personal electric mobility. The launch on July 27 coincided with the birth anniversary of Jorge T. Francisco, father of current Chairman Elmer Francisco.
Three Tiers of Performance
The Elektron is a five-door, five-seater compact crossover and will be offered in three distinct variants:
- Basic: The entry-level model uses a single electric motor and a 54.9kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery. Its estimated driving range is up to 400 km, with a top speed of 160 km/h.
- Fashion: This mid-tier variant keeps the single motor but uses a larger 63.2kWh battery, increasing estimated range to over 500 km. Performance figures are similar to the Basic model.
- Deluxe: The top variant uses a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive setup and an 81.5kWh battery. Output is 340 kW (about 456 hp) and 640 Nm of torque. It has a top speed of 180 km/h and an estimated range of over 600 km.
All variants support CCS2 fast charging, which is the standard for most EV charging stations here in the Philippines and elsewhere. The company says charging takes about 30 minutes, but has not provided detailed charging output figures.
All the tech of the modern electric passenger vehicle
The Elektron’s interior features a digital instrument cluster, a large central touchscreen, and a rotary controller. It’ll provide the usual car features like automatic climate control, ambient lighting, wireless charging, and USB ports. The premium versions of the FMC electric passenger vehicle will have a sunroof and heated and ventilated front seats with memory functions.
Standard safety features include traction control, emergency brake assist, and an acoustic pedestrian warning system. Some trims add Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, such as a 360-degree camera, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and collision mitigation alerts.
What’s great about this launch is that Francisco Motors is positioning the Elektron as part of its digital ecosystem, not just as a standalone vehicle. They are developing Jeepney.io wallet and other EVs called the PINOY transporter, a modern electric public transport; DOMENG, a coachbuilt owner-type jeepney; and KIDLAT, an electric van platform. They’re even going beyond EVs with a proposed hydrogen bus platform called HYDRON and PEGASUS, a future aerial mobility concept craft.
Pricing and Availability
The Elektron Deluxe is priced at PHP 1,947,000, a reference to the year Francisco Motors was founded. This is not the starting price for the lineup. The Basic and Fashion variants are expected to be more affordable. Francisco Motors also plans to offer commercial and fleet versions later.
Reservations open through the Founder Orbit program, which is limited to 1,947 slots and handled online. We’re really excited about the iconic automotive maker finally moving forward to address 21st-century mobility needs.
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