Vehicles & Servicing Chinese cars imports vs sales 2025 (in the Philippines)

From the information at the (chinese) website https://carnewschina.com/2026/01/25...-countries-ranking-in-2025-mexico-russia-uae/
it would appear to be the case that China exported 256,681 vehicles to the Philippines in 2025.

View attachment upload_2026-2-2_9-0-17.png

However, at the same time the total number of cars (passenger and commercial ones together) sold in the Philippines in 2025 came in at just below 500,000.
View attachment upload_2026-2-2_21-19-58.png

So these statistics can only be both true if more than half the cars sold in the Philippines in 2025 were actually built in China, so not just the brands recognizable as Chinese.
Either that or the "vehicles" definition in the chinese statistic includes all chinese motorbikes, electric scooters, trikes etc.

Either way, the recent success of BYD as a brand in the Philippines is remarkable, especially when looking at the rather quick closure of their Dumaguete branch by both Geely and more recently Changan.
BYD's new dealership in Dumaguete is being built on a rather large lot on North Road, so they seem confident that they're here to stay.
I do suspect Geely might return to Dumaguete in due course.

 

Tesla is one that fits this theory.
This topgear article has a chart of 2025 sales numbers per manufacturer, for members of the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers in the Philippine (CAMPI). Separate of the chart is the number for non member BYD.
https://www.topgear.com.ph/news/ind...2025-ph-a5361-20260123?ref=article_reco_slide

Just adding the top two Toyota and Mitsubishi is 316,255. Some models of these two would have to have to have been manufactured in China for China's claim to be true.

 

Speaking of BYD anyone here test drive one or purchase one yet and if so how is that working out so far?

 

I ordered a Sealion 6 a while ago, it got delivered last month, so the experience is rather limited so far.
I can say a few things about it,
1. the "pure electric" range is a bit more limited than advertised, still plenty for a couple days of mostly city traffic, but not 110 km.
2. the maximum charge speed of 7kw means that charging halfway destination is not really an option unless you're willing to wait 3 hours or so.
3. if you're any taller than me (5'10") the driver's chair won't move back far enough for your leg length.
4. driving around is really quiet, and it's a joy to charge the car battery from my solar system at home. After 500 km or so, the first gasoline tank is still all the way full.
5. the build quality is a little bit below the Volvo I was driving before, but at least on par with most other brands.
6. if it had been only up to me I would have bought a pure electric car rather than a hybrid, but my wife has a rather bad case of range anxiety, even though we would never drive further than to Cebu or Bacolod and back.

 

If you had purchased a pure electric car, how would you have managed during a trip to Cebu or Bacolod? Would the range of the batteries be greater than the distance? If not, are there any charging points en route or would you stay o/n part way and use the property's normal sockets (and would they allow that)?

And being ultra range-anxious, what if there were problems (e.g. a diversion) on the journey that over-ran the range?

 

Almost all full electric cars in the Philippines have a range of at least around 400 km. That would be plenty to drive to Cebu and back.
However, even the small ev options like the BYD Seagull has a 300 km range and that obviously gets you to Cebu comfortably.
Now, just like the two charging bays at the Robinson parking garage in Dumaguete, there are multiple options to charge the car in Cebu.
And also, full EV cars will charge a lot faster than mine, in other words you can enjoy a coffee or lunch somewhere while charging the car back up.

 

This might clear up what is currently suggested to be available. https://www.expressway.ph/ev-charging

 

I was not aware that the country is so advanced.

Next they will be having nuclear power and entering the space race.

 

Thanks for the very useful (well, when I have an EV!) access to maps for recharging EVs and for Tolls (toll charges seem rather high).

 

Hopefully not, I am not at all convinced they can successfully run a nuclear plant here, and that rocket plan will just be a way to spend money on something without a tangible return. Hmm, sounds like they might like that lol.