TessDrive compiles the latest corporate movements of automobile companies to give you a bird’s eye view of the rapidly-evolving mobility landscape.
May 2026 vehicle sales rebound with 24% improvement
The Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc (Campi) and the Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) reported a combined sales volume of 33,532 units for May 2026, marking a 24% improvement over the previous month. Including adjacent industry estimates, total market results reached approximately 35,200 units, a 6.9% increase from April, signaling a traditional market recovery after a lean performance period.
Campi President Jose Maria Atienza noted that energy efficiency remains a primary driver for local consumer purchases. Electrified vehicles (xEVs) doubled their cumulative January-to-May sales compared to the previous year, now commanding an 18% market share—a 9-point increase year-over-year. Concurrently, stabilized fuel prices spurred a 32% month-on-month growth in conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle sales. Among individual manufacturers, Toyota Motor Philippines Corp led May sales volume with 17,076 units, followed by Mitsubishi (5,415 units), Suzuki (1,441 units), Ford (1,260 units), and Isuzu (930 units).
Honda Cars inaugurates 4,355-sqm Parañaque hub
Honda Cars Philippines Inc (HCPI) officially expanded its Metro Manila footprint with the inauguration of Honda Cars Parañaque on June 5. Located at 8244 Dr. Arcadio Santos, Barangay San Isidro, the newly constructed 4,355-sqm facility eliminates the need for local residents to cross into adjacent cities for vehicle sales and after-sales care.
Owned and operated by 1Dynamix Automotive Inc, the dealership features an ergonomic layout housing a 6-car showroom, a dedicated sales-releasing area, 11 active work bays, and 9 specialized support bays. The state-of-the-art service infrastructure is fully equipped to handle general repairs, spare parts logistics, preventive maintenance, and light compact bodywork and paint. The launch was attended by HCPI president Hidekazu Arai alongside prominent local government officials, including Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez, Vice Mayor Benjo Bernabe III, and Rep. Eric Olivarez.
“Honda Cars Parañaque represents an important step in strengthening our presence in Metro Manila and enhancing accessibility for our customers. As a strategic market with strong growth potential, Parañaque offers great opportunities for Honda to further expand our reach and better serve our customers. Through this dealership, we aim to provide a seamless experience from sales to aftersales while building lasting relationships with our customers,” said Arai.
The showroom is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with mechanical service operations available Monday through Saturday. For appointments or inquiries, contact (+63) 917-316-3950 for vehicle sales or (+63) 917-316-1402 for service and parts, or e-mail hcpqadmin@1dynamix.com.
BYD Cars PH opens dealerships in Luzon, western Mindanao
BYD Cars Philippines, a subsidiary of ACMobility, executed a massive nationwide network expansion during the second quarter of 2026, launching multiple state-of-the-art facilities to make pure electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles accessible to a broader demographic. The aggressive deployment fortifies the brand’s presence across primary urban, regional, and logistics corridors.
Regional dealership deployments:
Metro Manila and southern corridors: BYD opened BYD Valenzuela, its largest facility in the National Capital Region, featuring an 11-bay configuration aligned with the city’s “Go Green” program. In the capital city, BYD Otis was inaugurated, splitting operations between a downtown showroom and a highly capable 10-bay service facility down the road. Down south, the 6-bay BYD Dasmariñas in Cavite went live, marking the 8th operational dealer in Region 4-A and the third in the province, expanding ACMobility’s public EV charging network spine.
Northern and central Luzon: The brand established BYD Angeles, its tenth facility in central Luzon and third in Pampanga, placing a 12-bay hub near the Clark Freeport Zone. Further north, a double milestone was achieved in La Union with the launch of a premier full-service facility, BYD La Union, alongside a high-visibility satellite branch, BYD Rosario, stationed at a SeaOil gas station.
Western Mindanao: BYD Zamboanga officially opened, marking the brand’s first facility in Zamboanga City and its second in the peninsula, bringing a 6-bay sales and after-sales support hub to a major economic trade gateway.
BYD Cars Philippines managing director Bob Palanca said: “Our focus goes far beyond simply offering great new energy vehicles. We are dedicated to making electric ownership attainable through our expansive dealership network nationwide. These new facilities reflect a promise to support our customers at every single step of their EV journey, ensuring that making the switch is easy and driving electric becomes a practical reality for everyday life.”
For more information, visit https://bydcarsphilippines.com.
GAC AION UT records global sales surge
The GAC AION UT compact electric hatchback recorded a global sales surge in May 2026, reaching 3,331 units—a 60% month-on-month increase that established it as the fastest-growing Chinese-brand electric hatchback in its international segment. Following its official Philippine launch in May, the Milan-designed vehicle has secured notable local market traction, backed by global accolades from Thailand’s Car of the Year awards and cross-industry youth demographic campaigns in South America and Hong Kong.
The model features a 2,750mm wheelbase, a flat-folding cabin layout, and a Magazine Battery 2.0 safety core. Early adopters have cited performance and space efficiency as primary buying factors. Paul Lacson, a Silay City government employee and owner of a Rococo White unit, noted that the hatchback comfortably handles long-distance highway cruising, consuming just 20% of its battery over a 100-km stretch. Quality analyst Jeff Filio, a first-time EV buyer who selected a two-tone variant from GAC Kawit, highlighted the practical technology and integration of the brand’s mobile app.
GAC International senior vice president Steven Wang said: “We are thrilled to bring another global hit from GAC’s line of innovations to the Philippines through the AION UT. This milestone allows us to further serve and diversify our brand offerings in the local mobility scene. We are confident that the AION UT will bolster dynamic, safe, and sustainable driving for Filipinos this 2026.”
The AION UT Elite is available at a base price of P998,000, which includes an introductory P50,000 discount extended through July 31, 2026. The first 400 buyers qualify for an additional P20,000 promotional markdown. GAC supports the EV with an 8-year or 160,000-km vehicle warranty, an 8-year or 200,000-km warranty on the core electric powertrain, and two years of free roadside assistance across its 30 nationwide dealerships.
Visit a nearby GAC dealership, or explore its new energy lineup at https://www.gacgroup.com/en-ph/test-drive. For the latest news and updates, follow @gacmotorph on Facebook and Instagram.
Inchcape sells Mazda Pasig C5 operations to Bermaz Auto
Inchcape Philippines, operating through its retail arm ICats Asian Motors Inc, and Mazda Philippines (Bermaz Auto Philippines Inc) announced a formal agreement transferring the retail operations of Mazda Pasig C5 to Bermaz Auto Philippines Inc effective August 1, 2026. Throughout the structural transition, both companies are working closely to ensure full continuity of service for existing customers, retail partners, and employees.
For Inchcape Philippines, the divestment forms part of a disciplined and strategic approach to active portfolio management, allowing the corporate group to focus institutional resources on market segments best aligned with its long-term strategic priorities. For Bermaz Auto Philippines, the absolute acquisition reflects a reinforced commitment to the Mazda brand’s dealership footprint and local customer base as it steers the brand’s next development chapter in the domestic market.
Inchcape managing director for South Asia and Pacific Alex Hammett said: “This transition reflects a shared commitment to ensuring continuity for customers, partners and employees while supporting the ongoing success of the Mazda brand in the Philippines. For Inchcape, it is also consistent with our disciplined approach to portfolio management, allowing us to focus our resources on opportunities that best align with our long-term strategic priorities.”
Mazda Philippines CEO and president Steven Tan added: “We appreciate the partnership with Inchcape Philippines in supporting this transition and are committed to ensuring continuity for customers, partners and employees. We look forward to continue building on Mazda’s presence in the market and supporting the brand’s continued development in the Philippines.”
Kia Sonet Pilipinas Club celebrates 2nd year meet
Kia Philippines, an ACMobility subsidiary, joined forces with the Kia Sonet Pilipinas Club to host its second anniversary gathering in Tanay, Rizal, celebrating a growth theme that mirrors the vehicle’s domestic retail performance. Since its local introduction, the subcompact SUV has officially surpassed the 10,000-unit sales mark in the Philippines, cementing its position in the segment. The weekend anniversary meet drew over 80 participating vehicles ranging across practical LX, mid-tier SX, and K-Style trims.
The synchronized convoy highlighted the Sonet’s everyday utility, fuel efficiency, and 205 mm ground clearance. Built with a 1.5-liter Smartstream engine paired with an Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT), the vehicle features proactive safety parameters via the Kia DriveWise ADAS suite. Club members emphasized the active community support and safety backing. Member Roxanne Malvar noted that the lane keep and lane follow assist features improve driver alertness, particularly when traveling with her pets, while Janina Baguilat praised the vehicle’s grip and minimal body roll on twisty asphalt roads.
Kia Philippines managing director Jay Lopez said: “The rapid growth of the Kia Sonet Pilipinas Club over the past year is a phenomenal reflection of the vehicle’s sustained momentum in the market. This milestone is an achievement we share entirely with our proud owners. As the Kia Sonet becomes a staple on local roads, it is this passionate, ever-expanding community that truly brings our vision of mobility to life.”
To explore Kia Philippines’ full vehicle lineup, visit www.kiaphilippines.com or follow Kia Philippines on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Asialink partners with CarBEV, VinFast, and PeekUp
Asialink Finance Corp (AFC), a leading non-bank financial institution in the Philippines, formalized a series of strategic partnerships with CBEV Transport Technology Inc (CarBEV), VinFast Fairview, and ride-hailing platform PeekUp. Signed at the AFC corporate office, the joint engagement expands access to localized EV and commercial fleet financing, assisting driver-partners and entrepreneurs entering the evolving transport network vehicle service (TNVS) market.
Under the terms of the collaboration, CarBEV will coordinate with AFC to facilitate commercial fleet financing for businesses deploying localized EV transport solutions. The alliance with VinFast will offer specialized financing packages across its passenger and commercial vehicle ranges to speed up EV adoption. Simultaneously, the PeekUp partnership targets capital opportunities for independent ride-hailing drivers, supporting AFC’s corporate goal to expand its brand-new car and auto loan portfolio by 36% through targeted new energy vehicle (NEV) capital lines.
VinFast records 42% year-over-year global revenue surge
VinFast Auto Ltd announced its unaudited financial results for the first quarter of 2026, recording total revenues of 23,111.1 billion VND ($920.7 million)—a 41.7% increase year-over-year. The electric vehicle company delivered 58,577 EVs globally during the quarter, a 61% jump compared to the same period last year, with international markets representing 8% of the total volume. In Vietnam, deliveries rose 53% year-over-year, securing the brand’s rank as the top domestic automotive OEM since September 2024. The brand expanded its global footprint, closing Q1 with 447 operational vehicle showrooms.
The brand’s Southeast Asian and Indian expansions yielded notable regional positions by the close of Q1, with VinFast ranking as the #1 BEV brand in the Philippines, #4 in India, and #8 in Indonesia. Its electric two-wheeler division delivered 143,136 e-scooters and e-bikes, representing a 219% surge year-over-year. In March 2026 alone, the company logged 135,000 e-scooter orders and captured a 17% share of Vietnam’s overall motorcycle market.
Looking ahead, the firm signed memoranda of understanding with 29 global after-sales entities to establish standardized workshops, aiming for a total network of 1,100 service centers across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. On June 1, at the Nvidia GTC Taipei event during Computex 2026, VinFast joined Nvidia and Autobrains to announce a strategic Level 4 autonomous vehicle software program for Southeast Asia built on the Nvidia Drive Hyperion platform.
Nissan Philippines celebrates excellence at 2026 DOYA
Nissan Philippines hosted its 2026 Dealer of the Year Awards (DOYA) at Okada Manila under the theme “Daring, Offensive, and Confident,” honoring top-performing dealer networks across sales, after sales, marketing, and business sustainability. Leading the annual ceremony was Nissan Alabang, which earned the prestigious 2026 Nissan Global Award alongside the Dealer of the Year title for the National Capital Region (NCR) category. Concurrently, Nissan Dasmariñas secured the Dealer of the Year title for the Provincial category. Both operations run under the leadership of Synergyauto Ventures Corp.
The brand also presented its long-standing Cornerstone Awards to commemorate multi-decade network partnerships. Royce Motor Center Inc. received the highest honor, the Diamond Cornerstone Award, marking 43 years of continuous collaboration. Platinum Cornerstone Awards were handed out to Davao Unicar Corp. (39 years), Ponce Automobile Corp. (34 years), Nissan Cebu Distribution Inc. (33 years), Iloilo Car Corp. (31 years), Tetra Sales and Services Inc. (31 years), and Nissan Commonwealth (30 years).
Nissan Philippines president Yoshinori Kanazawa said: “Our dealer partners are at the heart of how customers experience the Nissan brand every day. The awardees we celebrate tonight have demonstrated exceptional commitment to operational excellence, customer satisfaction, and continuous improvement. We are proud of their achievements and look forward to continuing our growth together as one team.”
To know more about Nissan Philippines’ latest updates, visit https://www.nissan.ph/.
Toyota Motor Asia refreshes regional athlete roster
Toyota Motor Asia (TMA) unveiled its refreshed 7-member Global Team Toyota Athletes (GTTAs) roster representing 6 Southeast Asian nations on the road to the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games and Asian Para Games to be held from Sept. 19 to Oct. 24, 2026. Unified under the regional brand platform “Move Your World,” the team integrates 5 returning competitors alongside two newly appointed para-athletes: Indonesia’s para-cyclist Muhammad Fadli Imamuddin and Malaysia’s para-athlete Muhammad Ammar Aiman Nor Azmi. Continuing to anchor the Philippine delegation are Olympic gymnastics champion Carlos Yulo and Paralympic swimming standout Ernie Gawilan.
Through its “Dual Hero Projects” launched in 2018, Toyota pairs each athlete with a community-focused development initiative. In the Philippines, Gawilan has spearheaded a nationwide coastal cleanup and mangrove restoration drive that mobilized over 1,300 volunteers to plant 10,000 mangroves across 33 sites. Concurrently, Yulo continues to manage the youth-focused “Start Your Impossible” Gymnastics Camp to train and mentor aspiring grassroots gymnasts.
Toyota Motor Asia vice president Preston Tan stated: “At Toyota, sport is a reflection of the human experience — the hope, the doubt, the dignity in defeat and the joy of moving forward together. Across Asia, our 7 Global Team Toyota Athletes embody that spirit, and it is our privilege to stand beside these athletes that continue to inspire and demonstrate how far dedication and courage can take them, both in competition and beyond.”
UAAGI finalizes dealership pacts for Jetour GAIA Spaces
The UAAGI Auto Group finalized strategic dealership appointments with MG Gateway Mantrade Corp (Gateway) and Prima Sierra Autohaus Inc (Prima Sierra) to operate its newest high-end Jetour GAIA outlets. Under the terms of the agreement, Gateway will manage the upcoming Jetour GAIA Space in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), situated at 7th Avenue corner 30th Street, with an official early 3rd quarter 2026 opening target. Concurrently, Prima Sierra will pilot the Jetour GAIA Space along Commerce Avenue in Filinvest City, Alabang, slated for full completion by early 4th quarter 2026. To meet immediate local luxury demand, Prima Sierra will activate a dedicated Alabang pop-up retail operation in early third quarter 2026.
Both hubs are integrated into UAAGI’s centralized logistics, parts, and technical framework. To ensure seamless operations, the auto group has deployed localized aftersales programs featuring optimized spare parts lines and standardized technical training modules. These technical programs include specialized instruction in advanced hybrid and electric vehicle systems, equipping dealer technicians with the engineering capabilities required to service next-generation drivetrains.
The retail expansion leverages the commercial momentum of the brand’s flagship offering, the G700 plug-in hybrid full-size SUV, which will anchor both the BGC and Alabang product lines. Jetour GAIA has also confirmed the introduction of a second vehicle line scheduled for a Q3 2026 release. The expansion joins the currently operational Jetour GAIA Space North EDSA, with advanced negotiations underway for two additional locations to bring the brand’s urban footprint to 5 corporate dealerships before the close of fiscal year 2026.