AYALA UNIT AC MOTORS KEEPS STEADY PUSH FOR E-VEHICLES

Ayala subsidiary AC Motors said it is looking to open 12 local car dealerships which will focus on showcasing the product lineup of electric vehicle (EV) giant BYD, amid plans to expand the market presence of the Chinese brand in the country.

AC Motors president Antonio “Toti” Zara III said they plan to do this in the next 12 months, putting up stores not just in Metro Manila in Luzon but also in Visayas and Mindanao.

“We are also receiving applicants for Metro Cebu, Cagayan de Oro and Davao,” Zara said during a press conference on Aug. 11 at Fairmont Hotel in Makati.

Demand

Across the BYD dealerships in the Philippines, AC Motors will offer the luxury executive sedan, BYD Han, the seven-seater family sport utility vehicle (SUV), BYD Tang; and the compact hatchback, BYD Dolphin.

By the end of this year, the president of Ayala Corp.’s automotive arm said they would also introduce the BYD ATTO 3 to the Philippine market, a compact electric crossover SUV.

Zara said they are projecting that demand for electric vehicles in the Philippines will continue to grow in the next few years which will fuel this business venture.

“We believe that in the next five, six years, between 10 [and] 20 percent of new vehicles will be EVs. We want to take a significant market share,” he said.

Deal finalized

On Friday, Ayala Corp. finalized the deal to be the official, local distributor of BYD in the Philippines.

“Our long-term vision is for AC Motors to become the leading platform for EVs and other new energy vehicles in the Philippines,” AC Motors chief executive officer Jaime Alfonso Zobel de Ayala said in a statement.

“This includes building up BYD to become a key brand in the Philippine market, with leading share among EV brands and a meaningful presence in the automotive market as a whole,” he added.

Meanwhile, managing director of BYD Philippines and Singapore James Ng said that they are looking forward to working hand in hand with Ayala to promote the development of new energy vehicles industry in the country.