Ayala Group of Companies subsidiary AC Motors makes several dealership appointments in a bid to speed up accessibility of BYD electric vehicles (EVs) in the Philippine market.
BYD EVs will now be available in more areas including Alabang, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Pampanga, Iloilo, Cebu, and BGC Taguig, following the opening of its first two dealerships for Makati and Quezon City.
New dealers are Anthony Cheng for Alabang, Wally Alvarez for Davao, Roger Chiu for Cagayan de Oro, Joseph Chng for Pampanga, Paul Tinsay for Iloilo, Edward Onglatco for Cebu, and Liu Fenglei for BGC Taguig.
“We aim to democratize EV ownership in the Philippines. Critical to fulfilling this goal is a strong dealership network across the country,” said Toti Zara, President of Mobility Access Philippines Ventures, Inc. (MAPVI). BYD Principals appointed AC Motors—through MAPVI—as the official distributor of BYD vehicles in the Philippines.
According to Zara, AC Motors aims to have at least 12 dealers in 12 months. “There will be more appointments coming,” Zara said.
The new dealership appointments were made last October 26, 2023 and was witnessed by Mr. Liu Xueliang, General Manager, BYD Asia Pacific Auto Sales Division and Mr. James Ng, General Manager for BYD Singapore, Brunei and the Philippines. BYD Co., Ltd. is a world leader in new energy vehicles (NEVs).
Earlier on August 25, 2023, AC Motors and Solar Transport and Automotive Resources inaugurated the 4,000-square-meter BYD Quezon Avenue, under the dealership of Tieng, president and CEO of Solar Transport. Located at 718 Quezon Avenue corner G. Araneta Street, BYD Quezon Avenue, the first flagship store, has a large showroom to showcase BYD’s pure EV line up. The showroom is a state-of-the-art facility that features an elevated customer lounge experience and dedicated new-car release area. BYD Quezon Avenue and BYD Makati, also under Solar Transport’s dealership, were the first two dealerships appointed by AC Motors.
AC Motors’ appointment of BYD as its official distributor in the Philippines is aimed at hastening the country’s adoption of EVs. The deal was finalized on August 11, 2023.
AC Motors chief Jaime Alfonso Zobel de Ayala has earlier described the partnership with BYD as a cornerstone of Ayala Group’s goal of accelerating the future of mobility in the country. AC Motors’ long-term vision is to become the leading platform for EVs and other NEVs in the Philippines, including building up BYD to become a key brand in the Philippine market. For his part, James Ng, Managing Director of BYD Philippines, Singapore, and Brunei has expressed optimism in working with the Ayala Group to promote the development of the new EVs industry in the Philippines and creating a greener future.
The dealerships will carry BYD EVs, including BYD Han, the luxury executive sedan; BYD Tang, the spacious 7-seater family SUV; BYD Dolphin, the compact hatchback. Each of these models offers a vehicle-to-load (V2L) feature, which is a bidirectional power feature that allows EV owners to use the large battery to power or charge something else. Regenerative Braking; Traction Control; Electronic Stability Control; Front, Side and Side Curtain Airbags; and a 360-degree camera come standard in the Dolphin, Tang, and Han. A Rotating Large Screen Infotainment Display, Voice Assistant, and Phone Connectivity are available as well. The exteriors feature LED Headlamps, Daytime Running Lights, and Taillamps.
BYD ATTO 3, the globally hailed EV model for its outstanding design, comfort, quality, practicality, and performance, was also recently introduced this month, November 2023.
As the most advanced EV available from BYD, Atto 3 is built around the all-new BYD e-Platform 3.0 designed exclusively for pure electric vehicles and powered by the ultra-safe BYD Blade Battery. For its pricing, BYD Atto 3 Premium with a 480KM is priced at Php 1,798,000, and BYD Atto 3 Dynamic with a 410KM range is at Php 1,598,000.
BYD Dolphin and BYD Tang, on the other hand, were on display at the recently concluded 11th Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit held in October, where MAPVI announced the latest pricing: BYD Dolphin at Php 1,398,000; BYD Tang at Php 3,321,000; and BYD Han at Php 3,113,000.
The Ayala Group has been prioritizing the electric mobility space, ensuring not only the availability and accessibility of EVs in the market but also the critical components of the EV ecosystem, such as charging infrastructure and how EVs integrate into the overall customer lifestyle.