The local unit of Chinese automotive giant BYD wants the government to strengthen its support for the electric vehicle (xEV) industry following President Marcos’ push during his recent State of the Nation Address (SONA).

“The President is encouraging the market, so that's a positive feedback for us, who’s in the NEV (new energy vehicle) sector,” BYD Cars Philippines Managing Director Bob Palanca said during the sidelines of the company’s vehicle launch on Tuesday, July 28.

During his SONA, Marcos urged motorists to make the switch to xEVs to cushion the impact of higher fuel prices, which remain elevated amid the conflict in the Middle East.

He noted that the government’s goal is for xEVs to account for half of all vehicles on the country’s roads by 2040.

Building on this commitment, Palanca said the government should step up its efforts to expand the country’s existing xEV infrastructure.

In particular, he said more should be done to help companies expedite the development of charging infrastructure, which remains insufficient to meet demand.

“The government should be able to assist companies like ACMobility in fast tracking permitting with certain LGUs (local government units) to set up charging infrastructure,” said Palanca.

Ayala-led ACMobility is the local distributor of BYD vehicles in the Philippines.

Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Utilization Management Bureau Director Patrick Aquino recently said the agency is planning to establish an expedited processing system for EV charging stations.

He said the agency wants to cut the approval process for companies planning to set up charging facilities in half, as it currently takes around six months to complete.

Marcos also said in his SONA that driving demand for xEVs should encourage the growth of local industries across the EV value chain, especially those involved in vehicle assembly and the manufacturing of batteries and related spare parts.

At present, the government is still finalizing the EV Incentive Strategy (EVIS), which seeks to provide ₱60 billion worth of incentives to participating companies in exchange for investments in local EV manufacturing.

When asked if BYD is considering participating in the EVIS, Palanca said the company has no plans yet to establish a domestic manufacturing site.

“We don't have that in our pipeline. It is not part of our vision at this point in time,” he said.

He said BYD’s vehicle inventory across its 81 dealerships nationwide remains adequate to meet the stronger demand seen in recent months.

It is estimated that NEVs accounted for more than 22 percent of new vehicle sales in the country in the first half of the year.

Palanca said the automotive firm has contributed to this surge, particularly as demand for xEVs has ballooned in recent months amid elevated fuel prices.

Based on industry data, xEV sales, including NEVs, expanded by nearly 133 percent to 31,381 units from January to June, up from 13,488 units in the same period last year.

BYD Cars Philippines on Tuesday introduced the ALL-NEW BYD Atto 2 and the NEW BYD Seal 5 DM-i models, which are envisioned to make electrified mobility more accessible.