A ‘harvest’ of 10,000
The first time I met Jaime Alfonso Zobel de Ayala was in September 2023, during a tree-planting activity called the “ACRE Movement: A Gift of Tree” program. The man was then 32 years old, and he had no qualms about getting dirt on himself to plant a few saplings that would eventually grow into big, sturdy trees in a few years.
It was also around that time (in August, actually) that Ayala Corp’s mobility solutions company ACMobility, then named AC Motors, had acquired the distributorship contract for BYD in the Philippines.
Those saplings Jaime Alfonso planted nearly two years ago in Alaminos, Laguna must have taken root and have grown considerably by now. I’m not sure how large they’ve become, since we haven’t really come back to the site since. But what I’m quite sure of is that the “sapling” ACMobility planted in August 2023 in the Philippine market has grown and bore much fruit. Just recently, BYD Cars Philippines had just announced its 10,000th BYD car sold in just a span of 15 months—from January 2024 to April 2025.
That milestone model, a BYD eMAX 7, the brand’s full-electric Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV), was purchased and turned over to Adrian Goh, a tech industry executive, last April 30.
This was the happy context that BYD Cars Philippines and ACMobility officials found themselves in when they inaugurated BYD Bacoor—their first BYD dealership in Cavite province—last May 6. Jaime Alfonso, who’s now ACMobility chief executive officer, BYD Cars Philippines managing director Bob Palanca, and Antonio “Toti” Zara (who will move into an advisory role for ACMobility after his retirement from being head of automotive retail and distribution), were all smiles during the opening ceremonies.
In his speech, Jaime Alfonso gave hints that ACMobility and BYD Cars Philippines had just “planted another sapling” in very rich soil with the opening of BYD Bacoor.
“Bacoor has always been a city of crossroads, bridging Metro Manila with the dynamic communities of the South. Today it opens a new chapter. It’s a gateway to transformative mobility in the Philippines. This is BYD’s first dealership in the Cavite area, and the fourth BYD facility developed and operated by Iconic Dealership Inc led by Dennis (Salvador, chief operating officer of Iconic Dealership Inc, the dealership arm of ACMobility), the team has once again delivered a space built to serve, to inspire and to nurture the passion for innovation and technology. As we shift towards sustainable mobility, and this transformation continues, each new BYD dealership strengthens our position as the leader in the new energy vehicles sector,” Jaime Alfonso told guests at the event.
Strategically located along Molino Boulevard, BYD Bacoor boasts its showroom sets a “high standard with its world-class facilities, spacious customer lounge, and modern open workshop — all designed to deliver an exceptional experience for every guest.”
Jaime Alfonso continued: “Bacoor, with its strategic location, is ideal for this next leap. This is a vibrant city that now offers everyone from Cavite the chance to experience cutting-edge electric vehicle technology right for our community. Together with our partners and stakeholders, we’ve worked tirelessly to bring world-class EVs to Filipinos at the right price points and with infrastructure to support the growing demand for innovation.”
Jaime Alfonso also disclosed that (clean energy) mobility is “continuing to charge forward over 700 charge points across 300 locations nationwide by this year’s end, including key areas here in Cavite, to make EV ownership convenient and accessible.”
Jaime Alfonso concluded his speech by saying that, as BYD Bacoor becomes part of the ACMobility network, “Cavite joins a growing number of hubs that are reshaping how Flilipinos move, how they connect and how they live. Let’s continue this momentum as partners, pioneers and communities moving towards the future.”
Lovelyn Labrador, BYD Cars Philippines’ deputy GM for corporate services, described the opening of BYD Bacoor as “a milestone that represents not just the launch of a new showroom and service center but a bold step toward a greener future for the Philippines and beyond.”
She added, “This facility is more than just a place to explore new energy vehicles. It stands as a symbol of innovation, sustainability and shared responsibility. It brings BYD’s global ambition closer to Filipino families, businesses and communities that are ready to drive the change. And we believe that the transformation to cleaner mobility must begin in places willing to lead, and Bacoor is one of those places. BYD Bacoor will be a space where technology and purpose meet. From BYD’s first-class NEVs to ACMobility’s robust charging infrastructure, every product and service we offer reflects our unwavering commitment to transforming transportation and building a better, more sustainable future for generations to come.”
Bacoor Mayor Strike Revilla said that he was thankful that BYD Cars Philippines chose Bacoor as the location of its first dealership in Cavite. He added that the city government itself had been gearing towards clean energy and electric vehicles.
“I hope one day BYD will have an electric bus.” Revilla said that he wants to provide Bacoor residents electric buses that would offer free rides around the city.
