‘We will not stop educating people about EVs’

BYD Cars Philippines Managing Director Bob Palanca on what to expect from the ‘new energy vehicle’ leader

- Interview by Kap Maceda Aguila

Mr. Palanca aboard a Fangchengbao SUV at BYD's Di-Space Museum in Zhengzhou

(PHOTO BY KAF MACEIRA AGUILA)

IN THE ERQI District of Zhengzhou stands Di-Space, BYD’s first “national new energy vehicle science museum.”

The facility not only tells of and encapsulates the auto industry’s tale as a whole but is a deep dive into the innovations and technologies that have marked the journey-to-date of the world’s leading new energy vehicle brand.

It is verily a curious juxtaposition of old and new. Zhengzhou is the capital of Henan Province located on the east-central mainland, and is said to boast history dating back to the Neolithic times and was a former ancient Shang dynasty stronghold. Di-Space is now projecting the type of cutting-edge work being done on BYD vehicles and their components — along with specimens from its affiliate marques Denza, Fangchengbao, and Yangwang.

BYD said it sunk nearly CNY200 million into establishing the four-storey, 15,000-square-meter facility (with an additional 8,500 square meters of outdoor support), which marks “an important step for BYD in the field of science education and cultural promotion of new energy vehicles.”