PLUG AND PLAY
If there’s one automotive brand that had an absolutely amazing 2025, it was BYD Cars Philippines.
In just two years under the aggressive management of Ayala Corporation subsidiary ACMobility, the Chinese automaker has stupefied the local car industry by selling a record 26,122 units last year. This not only translated to a year-on-year growth rate of 446 percent, but also made BYD Cars Philippines the third best-selling car brand in the country.
Aside from steam-rolling Japanese legacy brands, the company also snatched the crown of best-selling Chinese auto brand from longtime holder MG Philippines. But the latter won’t take this challenger sitting down, especially with its plans to enter the immensely popular plug-in-hybrid-electric vehicle (PHEV) market.
Recently appointed president MG Philippines Wei Wei Zhang announced at a media gathering on Tuesday that the company will amp up its electrified lineup, although he remained mum on what models they plan to bring in.
We decided to check out what MG PHEV models are available in other markets to see if BYD Cars Philippines has something to be worried about.
MG HS PHEV
The MG HS Hybrid+ was launched in the Philippines last November 2025, albeit as a regular HEV.
With an introductory price of P1,388,888, it is positioned as a simpler and cheaper rival to the best-selling BYD Sealion 6 DM-i compact crossover. Our latest road test uncovered that the HS Hybrid+ was more engaging to drive (and far less complicated to operate) than the BYD, but lacked the latter’s more luxurious cabin and impressive battery range.
However, other markets get the HS PHEV (also known as the HS Super Hybrid) that pairs the standard turbocharged 1.5-liter gasoline engine with a larger 24.7-kWh battery pack (versus 1.8 kWh in the HS Hybrid+) – MG claims a maximum range of 103 kilometers on a full charge.
Combined output is a sensational 334 horsepower and 432 Newton-meters of torque, which is coursed through a 2-speed dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT). This means the HS PHEV easily outguns the 214 horsepower and 325 Newton-meters of torque from the Sealion 6 DM-i available locally, as of press time.
MG8 PHEV
The popular BYD Seal 5 DM-i may soon have competition, courtesy of the Roewe D7 DMH (also known as the MG8 PHEV in the Middle East since its launch there in September 2025).
It comes with a 1.5-liter gasoline engine with 112 horsepower and an electric motor with 183 horsepower, which are mated to a 19.7-kWh battery pack. The carmaker has not yet released the model’s combined power output.
The MG8 PHEV also has a claimed maximum battery-only range of 125 kilometers and a combined range of up to 1,400 kilometers. For comparison, the BYD Seal 5 DM-i Premium has a claimed maximum NEDC battery range of 115 kilometers and a combined maximum range of over 1,000 kilometers.
MG Maxus 7
Another PHEV is available from MG’s sister brand Maxus (which is also where the superb MG G50 multi-purpose vehicle hails from).
In other markets, this three-row minivan is known as the MG Maxus 7 (or Maxus Mifa 7) and is equipped with a 1.5-liter gasoline engine and an electric motor, which are mated to either a 24.7-kWh or 39.7 kWh battery pack. Combined output is 238 horsepower that is coursed through a 2-speed DHT.
Although BYD Cars Philippines does not sell an equivalent model, as of press time, the MG Maxus 7 is around the same size as the Hyundai Custin – the latter is only available with a turbocharged 1.5-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve inline-4 gasoline engine with 168 horsepower and 253 Newton-meters of torque.
Do you think MG Philippines can claw their way back to the top with this plugged-in lineup?
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