The Philippine news this week was less about new metal than about who will sell and service it. One brand entered the market, and three others spent the week expanding or assembling their dealer networks.
A new entrant
XPeng has begun sales in the Philippines with the L03 crossover and the X9 MPV. The L03 is offered both as a battery-electric vehicle and as a range-extended model, priced from P1,548,000 for the EV Standard to P2,058,000 for the Long Range Ultra. The fully electric X9 starts at P3,858,000 and its 110-kWh battery is rated for 615 km under WLTP.
The dealer race
Three announcements in the same week point the same way:
- Omoda and Jaecoo signed their 50th dealer partnership, with MG Gateway South Corporation.
- iCAUR signed its first four dealer partners ahead of a formal launch planned by the end of 2026, with the V23 EV and V27 REEV in its lineup. MG Gateway South Corporation is among them as well.
- Jetour awarded franchises for three locations: EDSA-Greenhills in Metro Manila, Iloilo and Tarlac. No opening dates were given.
The same dealer group appearing in two of these deals shows how Chinese brands are leaning on established local retailers rather than building from scratch. Jetour's choice of Iloilo and Tarlac, and GWM's first owner meet outside Metro Manila, held in Cagayan de Oro with more than 50 owners, both reflect a push into the provinces.
Deals and test drives
GAC is adding a 7-kW home charger and two years of maintenance for Aion UT and Aion V buyers who take delivery by December 31, 2026. MG took five electrified models on tour to SM Mall of Asia, with an introductory discount that puts the S5 EV at ₱1,408,888. A review of the Haval H9, sold in one Lux 4x4 variant at PHP 1,998,000, praised its space and value while noting it has no driver-assistance suite.
The wider market
Total new-vehicle sales in the Philippines were 34,390 in August 2026, including companies outside the industry association; sales by association members fell 18.1% year on year. Two Australian stories also travelled: the BYD Sealion 5's three-star ANCAP rating and BYD's planned software fix for the Shark 6, both models that matter to buyers of BYD here.
What it means
- For buyers outside Metro Manila, the dealer announcements matter more than the launches: check where the nearest service point actually is, and whether it has opened.
- EV buyers now have bundled charger and maintenance offers to weigh against straight discounts.
- Association members' sales were down 18.1% in August, so these network and incentive moves are happening in a shrinking market, not a growing one.