Well-timed, well-priced, well-done
BYD Cars Philippines’ meteoric climb to become one of the top three best-selling auto brands of 2025 is, of course, because of the buyers who put their trust in it.
Despite only gaining steam in 2024, the company has served thousands of delighted owners nationwide who have wholeheartedly welcomed the perks of electrified mobility, all while saving millions of pesos compared to buying from legacy brands. Indeed, other carmakers are scrambling to claw back the customers that this Chinese upstart has handily taken into its fold.
In exclusive interviews with Inquirer Mobility, three BYD owners talked about how the brand got things so right for them.
New-gen college car
Having your own car as a college student is already a luxury in itself.
But when it’s one that’s as fully loaded as a BYD Sealion 6 DM-i, shuttling between classes, tambays and parties becomes a breeze. For 22-year-old student Charlie Sagaral, choosing BYD’s top-selling compact crossover was a no-brainer.
“I was in the market for an affordable SUV back when the Sealion 6 DM-i was released,” he said. “The value for money that it offered was too good to pass up on. Our family was blown away by how efficient the car is in terms of fuel and electricity consumption, along with the tons of features and ride comfort, despite the relatively low pricetag.”
Charlie usually drives his white Sealion 6 DM-i around Metro Manila, sometimes venturing south to play golf and even up north to Baguio for some meetings. As of press time, he has covered around 22,000 kilometers in his trusty ride.
“Currently, the BYD App says I’ve used 7.2 kWh per 100km and 2.7 L per 100km in terms of fuel consumption,” he said. “We don’t really measure how much our electricity costs anymore because it really undercuts the fuel costs of our regular ICE cars. Ever since I got this, I stopped having to worry about where or how far my destination is.”
Charlie said BYD models like his car are special because of how well these combine excellent efficiency with features that would often cost extra in equivalent models from other brands.
“Aside from that, their cars look quite sleek around Philippine roads,” he said. “Would I buy another one? Yes, definitely. I would swap out one of our ICE cars for a BYD if given an opportunity.”
Sustainable speed
Joey Deriquito often gets a lot of attention in Facebook groups with his gray BYD Seal 5 DM-i Premium.
It’s largely because of the extremes that the 31-year-old account executive subjects his electrified sedan to – he frequently races his Seal 5 DM-i in various grassroot motorsport events. Indeed, Joey and his sleek BYD recently clinched the Electrified-Vehicle Class Overall Championship of the 2026 Gymkhana Pilipinas season.
“My BYD Seal 5 Premium has performed splendidly over the nearly two years I’ve owned it,” he said. “Used as a daily commuter or the occasional autocross racecar, the sedan checks all the right boxes for my transportation needs and beyond.”
Joey said he uses his Seal 5 DM-i to go on whatever adventures the road takes him, all while maximizing his car’s energy efficiency and Metro Manila number-coding exemptions.
“As the Seal 5 DM-i Premium comes with a fully electric driving range of about 100 kilometers, I get about 7.6 kWh per 100km, but over my last 50km drive, I was getting a more realistic 12.9 kWh per 100km,” he said. “As far as savings at the pump are concerned, my Seal 5 DM-i costs me about P4,000 to P6,000 less than our 1.4-liter ICE car over the same distance.”
Indeed, Joey said his racing accomplishments not only prove the car’s durability and championship-winning performance, but also the viability of electrification in Philippine motorsports.
“My Seal 5 DM-i is special to me because it has been blazing a trail in local grassroots motorsports,” he said. “Because of how value packed BYD’s vehicles are, we have expanded our family fleet to include a Sealion 6 DM-i. In fact, my uncle has gone fully electric with his purchase of a BYD Dolphin.”
Never say die
Months ago, torrential downpours turned the San Simon area of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) into a lake.
Among the hapless motorists caught in this entirely preventable mess was sales executive Kat Garcia, who was delighted at how her BYD Sealion 6 DM-i performed as the world went into a standstill.
“We used our Sealion 6 DM-i for a quick weekend trip to Baguio,” he said. “On our way back to Manila, we were among those caught in the gridlock during the recent habagat after the San Simon area of NLEX was closed due to flooding. We were stuck on NLEX for almost six hours.”
While non-electrified vehicles would have guzzled through their fuel tanks after sitting in traffic for that long, Kat said they just left their BYD running through the whole ordeal so that they could stay cool. They eventually rerouted through Mexico, Gapan and Bulacan before returning to Manila.
“What should have been a quick trip home turned into a 14-hour journey,” she said. “Despite the long hours, heavy traffic and poor road conditions, our BYD kept us safe and comfortable throughout the journey. What also gave us peace of mind was not having to constantly worry about fuel consumption, thanks to the Sealion 6 DM-i’s efficient plug-in system.”
From cool college car to ‘Carmaggedon’ survivor, BYD Cars Philippines has undoubtedly made huge impacts in Filipinos’ lives in such a short time. And as fuel prices remain high, Charlie, Joey and Kat have not only bought well-equipped and dependable rides, but also insurance against the uncertainties that lie ahead.
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