BYD rides high with market-shaking DM-i tech

We reveled in the sights of Southern Luzon, thanks to the fuel-efficient BYD DM-i lineup.

Despite being a rather flat year for the entire Philippine car industry, 2025 was especially bright for one highly innovative automaker.

BYD Cars Philippines, which entered the limelight only after it had been taken over Ayala Corporation subsidiary ACMobility last August 2023, sold a record-breaking 26,122 units last year. This not only represented an epic 446-percent leap from 2024, but also put the Chinese upstart in third place among all auto brands in terms of sales.

One of the biggest factors in BYD Cars’ meteoric rise is its plug-in DM-i technology – this enables Filipinos to enjoy longer battery ranges than traditional hybrids from the likes of Toyota and Honda Cars, while its gasoline generator totally eliminates the range anxiety that people get in a battery-electric vehicle.

The fact that all DM-i models are very aggressively priced is the final nail in the coffin for legacy automakers that are scrambling to not be buried into the ground. To reinforce the versatility of DM-i technology, BYD Cars Philippines took members of the media on a three-day trip to Southern Luzon.

BYD Cars Philippines managing director Bob Palanca also drove himself over 600 kilometers for two days in a BYD Sealion 6 DM-i

Familiar ground

The jumpoff point was the Acacia Hotel in Alabang, where I found out that I would be partnered with titans like retired Isuzu Philippines Corporation marketing chief Joseph Bautista (whose YouTube channel showcases epic voyages for senior citizens) and Daily Tribune motoring editor Ricky Garcia.

After a big breakfast, we started out in the P1,549,000 BYD Sealion 6 DM-i – this hot-selling compact crossover was BYD Cars Philippines first salvo against established models like the Toyota RAV4 HEV and Honda CR-V RS e:HEV. It not only beat them in terms of standard equipment, but also pummeled them in terms of price, performance and fuel economy.

My extensive knowledge of the Sealion 6 DM-i (we have owned one since 2024) was put to good use on the long stretches of expressway and national highway that we traversed, allowing us to get around 30 kilometers per liter along the way.

The BYD Seal 5 sedan represents the most accessible entry into the innovative DM-i plug-in powerplant.

Suave 7-seater

Our group arrived at the Shell gas station in Quezon not to fuel up, but to switch cars.

Sir Joseph got the first crack at the P2,098,000 BYD Tang DM-i, while I reveled in this big crossover’s silence and comfort. Upon arriving at the PTT gas station in Lucena, I took over driving duties to our lunch stop, Daph’s Restaurant, in Plaridel town in Quezon.

Along the way, the capacious seven-seater remained totally composed, even as we negotiated the many twists and turns of the so-called “Bitukang Manok” highway. The fact that we were able to do around 25 kilometers per liter in the Tang DM-i just made this leg all the more satisfying.

This big BYD raises the bar that pick-up-based sport-utility vehicles like the Toyota Fortuner and Mitsubishi Montero Sport must hurdle, especially with diesel being so expensive as of press time.

Unbothered, unruffled

After our delightful seaside lunch, Sir Ricky got behind the wheel until we arrived at a Petron gas station in Lopez town in Quezon, where we headed into the top-of-the-line, P2,998,000 BYD eMAX 9 DM-i Premium.

I was behind the wheel as we began our voyage through the province’s major national highway that was littered with potholes resulting from poor maintenance, despite being a major artery for heavy-goods vehicles. But with the eMAX 9’s adaptive dampers set to their firmest setting, the ride was utterly composed, while cornering ability was superb for such a large car.

Making this leg all the more bearable were the toys like the air-conditioned driver’s seat with massage function to help keep my blood circulation (and my sanity) in check as we maneuvered around the worst that Quezon’s roads could throw at us. The 15 kilometers per liter that we all mustered in these awful conditions certainly put a smile on my face.

Even though vehicles like these will likely encounter less pockmarked terrain, it’s reassuring that the eMAX 9’s solid build quality could take all this abuse – I certainly enjoyed it as a passenger when Sir Joseph took over. It should, perhaps, come as no surprise that people are looking to this over the likes of the hugely expensive Toyota Alphard HEV.

Members of the media take a photo-op with BYD DM-i models.

Fun 4-door

Upon our arrival at the Little Zuki gas station in Camarines Sur, Sir Ricky took on driving duties as we piled into the top-spec, P1,198,000 BYD Seal 5 DM-i Premium.

Despite being the entry-level model of the entire DM-i lineup, this electrified sedan still gets goodies like a sunroof, leather upholstery and an electrically adjustable driver’s seat. Even as darkness fell, our convoy soldiered on with sensational fuel-consumption figures that could only be possible in a car like the Seal 5 DM-i.

At our final driver change for the day, I got behind the wheel as we drove to our resting place for the night. Making the most of the battery charge we generated throughout the trip, I used Electric Vehicle mode to achieve a stunning 30 kilometers per liter until we arrived at the Avenue Plaza Hotel in Naga City, some 16 hours after we left Alabang.

Given that the Seal 5 DM-i Premium severely undercuts rivals like the Toyota Corolla Altis HEV and the Honda Civic RS e:HEV, the traditional sedan may just live on in models like BYD Cars’ four-door.

From four-doors to MPVs, there is a BYD DM-i for every Filipino.

Paradise

The next morning, Sir Joseph drove us in the Seal 5 DM-i from the hotel to the Isarog Gas Station in Tigaon in Camarines Sur.

While most cars would have loaded up with fuel by now, our electrified convoy kept on chugging along, although we were now in the P1,248,000 BYD Sealion 5 DM-i. Sir Ricky handled the leg from the gas station to the Buendia Store in Libmanan town in Camarines Sur, where I took over the driving duties to our lunch stop.

FarmPlate, which is located in Daraga town in Albay and billed as “The Happiest Place in Bicol,” offered a picturesque view of the world-renowned Mayon Volcano – despite fairly minor eruptions over the last few months, it was rather shy that afternoon as it hid behind thick clouds. But the authentic Bicol Express that we ate certainly had the heat of an active volcano.

After our searing-hot lunch, we drove off to our rest stop for the day, the scenic Residencia de Hamor seaside resort in Sorsogon. Following a night of festivities and a rich lunch the next day, we all headed to the new Bicol International Airport for our flight back to Manila.

BYD Cars Philippines’ trip down south proved several things – for one, these DM-i models easily have the range, performance and comfort to handle such an epic journey with no issues. And for another, BYD Cars made these things tough enough to survive the worst that Philippine roads could throw at them.

Given the sudden eruption in fuel prices in the days since our northern excursion, it seems like we’re going to need BYD Cars Philippines more than ever.

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