Up to this point, electric vehicles in the Philippines have predominantly been second cars for the rich. For those who can afford them, EVs usually function as a non-fuel-consuming alternative for taking kids to school, buying groceries, and doing errands. Because of their prohibitive pricing, only a few can consider buying one. And because the affordable ones are either too small or are range-limited, and given our country’s sparse charging station infrastructure, only a few would consider buyi

BYD Philippines president Toti Zara announced that the BYD ATTO 3 crossover electric vehicle (EV) will be launched locally at the start of the Philippine EV Summit on Oct. 19, 2023. During a press conference attended by the Philippine motoring press at the Zhuhai International Circuit in Guangdong, China, Zara confirmed that the ATTO 3, one of the Chinese automaker's most popular global EV models, will officially become available. No SRP has been stated, but Zara mentioned that BYD Philippines i

BREAKING: A reliable source who wishes not to be identified has confirmed that AC Motors, the Ayala-owned distributor of Volkswagen, Maxus, and Kia vehicles, will take over the BYD brand in the country. An announcement is likely to be made by August 11, 2023. This development follows a recent internal company announcement that Jaime Alfonso Zobel de Ayala will become the new president and CEO of AC Motors. Jaime Alfonso is the only son of Jaime Augusto and Lizzie Zobel de Ayala; he is part of th

Chinese carmaker BYD seems intent on making an electric-vehicle (EV) lineup of aquatic friends. After the Seal compact executive sedan and the Dolphin subcompact hatchback, the company is now planning to unveil a mini EV that hangs out near the ocean but has wings. Well, sort of. Based on photos from the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the government agency that handles vehicle homologation, the BYD Seagull will take on the likes of the adorable Ora White Cat smal

With the passing of the EVIDA Law in the Philippines, Hybrid Electric Vehicles and Battery Electric Vehicles, or HEV's and BEVs for short, are starting to pop up in the market from all different kinds of manufacturers. The Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA), Republic Act No. 11697 is primarily focused on developing a manufacturing industry for electric vehicles. It also reinforces the EV-specific importation provisions of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law i

The very first story I wrote for AutoFun Philippines, after a four-year hiatus as a motoring journalist, was about Republic Act 11697 or the "Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act." Most legislative stories would bore me (and many of you) half to death, especially when you have to decipher all the provisions of a law. But this particular measure piqued my interest because it provides the framework for the growth of electric vehicles (EV) in the country, from the cars to the charging stations