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

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

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

EVs in the Philippines are starting to make their way into the public consciousness. What before was just one is now several, with more on the way, not forgetting that they’re bringing their hybrid cousins with them to the party. But what EVs are even available in the country? Nissan Leaf So the OG EV in the country is the Nissan Leaf. As the first to be sold, it was a lightning bolt to the other car companies operating here, telling them, “Hey. The Philippines is gearing up to welcome EVs. If y

With the average price of electric vehicles in the market being close to ₱3,000,000, it may seem daunting for many mass-market buyers to consider it for their next car purchase. Fear not, because there are some cheap EVs available to the average buyer, and most of them won't cost an arm and a leg. Wuling Hongguang Mini EV Arguably the cheapest is the grey market-sourced Wuling Hongguang Mini EV, priced at ₱650,000 for the Macaron version. With four seats, air conditioning, and a media player (no

Over the past decade, an oft-repeated but rarely turned into concrete action posit of the local auto industry was a need to shift to electric and hybrid cars. The 2022 Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS) showed attendees that the shift above wasn't just idle chat. Pure battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and hybrid vehicles (HEVs) were highlights of more than one automaker at PIMS. For example, Kia's EV6 full-electric compact crossover sport utility vehicle (SUV) was front and center at the