Cebu now a major force in shift to EV

Cebu, long known as a key business hub in the Philippines, is quickly becoming a major player in the country's shift to electric vehicles (EVs).

- Ehda M. Dagooc Staff Member

Spearheaded by the aggressive rollout of BYD, the Chinese automaker backed by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, the province is setting the pace in both consumer and institutional EV adoption.

The primary legislation in the Philippines that provides incentives for electric vehicle (EV) usage is the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA), officially known as Republic Act No. 11697.

Enacted in April 2022, EVIDA establishes a comprehensive framework to promote the adoption and development of EVs in the country.

Recently, the BYD Cebu Group has inaugurated three new dealerships headlined by the opening of BYD Cebu Central, now the largest BYD showroom in the country.

The expansion, which also includes BYD Cebu IL Corso and BYD Ayala Center Cebu, was capped by a groundbreaking ceremony for a fifth branch in Minglanilla, set to open by year-end. This brings BYD's Cebu footprint to five locations, underlining its strategic bet on the province as a growth engine.

Since launching in Cebu in April 2024, BYD has sold over 1,000 EVs a strong showing in a country where the EV market is still growing.

The surge in demand, according to BYD Cebu Group's Edward Onglatco, reflects the province's uniquely receptive customer base.