With EV adoption in the Philippines gaining momentum, BYD Cars Philippines, a subsidiary of AC Mobility, is positioning its brand outside of Luzon, targeting 12 dealerships in the Visayas and 10 in Mindanao by end this year.
Bob Palanca, managing director of BYD Cars Philippines, told Logistics News PH at the 13th Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit at SMX Convention Center, they have currently 8 dealerships in Visayas and 6 in Mindanao.
“We will increase significantly. As a matter of fact, there are a lot of dealer applicants that want to put up dealerships in Visayas and Mindanao,” Palanca said. The company targets to have 12 dealerships in Visayas and 10 in Mindanao by end this year to ensure they will be fully operational in the first quarter of 2026.
To support the expansion, AC Mobility is also ramping up the establishment of charging points to 700 by end of this year, covering from the tip of Luzon in Pagudpud, all the way down to the south in Pagadian.
“In between, you will be able to charge. So all major cities outside Visayas and Mindanao are covered,” he said.
Expanding from 2 to 25 dealerships in 2024, BYD Cars Philippines has 52 new dealer locations approved for 2025, ensuring greater accessibility nationwide.
Palanca is confident on the success of EVs in the Philippines compared to the conventional internal combustion engines (ICE) cars. “I do not see the entire figure, but it would be substantial. Definitely more than double than last year, that’s for sure,” he said in relation to the car ownership ratio of EVs to ICEs.
In 2024, BYD sold 4,780 units, achieving an astounding 8,900% growth and securing an 82 percent local market share in the NEV segment. With a 69 percent share in the Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) market, BYD is now the leading BEV brand in the Philippines.
Official data from the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. showed the total EV market categories sales hit 20,662 units, accounting for an improved market share of 6.02 units for the January-September period. There were 2,223 units total EVs sold in September, slightly slower than the 2,244 units sold in the period month.
New model
At the summit, BYD has unveiled the all-new BYD eMAX9 DM-i, a mid-size MPV category aimed to advance the brand’s vision of sustainable luxury mobility.
BYD eMAX 9 DM-i offers exceptional range flexibility to match diverse driving needs. The premium variant is equipped with a 36.6kWh battery, providing up to 170 kilometers of pure-electric range, while the Advanced model features a 20.4 kWh battery good for 95 kilometers of electric driving.
“It is an elegant statement of progress for Filipino families and professionals who seek sustainable mobility and value smart ownership,” said Palanca.
BYD’s smallest vehicle offering in the country is the BYD Seagull, priced at PHP 889,000, it can cover 300 kilometers.
