Jaime Alfonso Zobel de Ayala did not disclose exactly how many BYD vehicles he personally owns, but his answer revealed enough.
Pressed on the question while heading to another meeting, the 35-year-old chief executive officer of ACMobility simply said he would rather not specify, though he admitted the number may continue to rise in the years ahead. His growing appreciation for the brand was unmistakable.
That response reflects more than personal preference. It signals how deeply BYD has become embedded in the growth strategy of Ayala Corp.’s mobility business.
What began as a partnership in August 2023 has quickly evolved into one of the most significant commercial drivers for ACMobility. The alliance with Chinese automotive giant BYD was renewed earlier this year, following a period of exceptional expansion that positioned the brand at the center of the company’s performance.
In 2025, ACMobility recorded an 82 percent increase in unit sales, reaching nearly 43,000 vehicles. Revenue climbed 84 percent, approaching P55 billion. BYD alone accounted for 25,094 units sold, surpassing ACMobility’s entire portfolio sales in 2024, which stood at 23,483 units.
For Jaime Alfonso, this is not simply a strong commercial outcome. It represents the Ayala Group’s long-standing business philosophy: identify a national problem, then align with the strongest global partner capable of solving it.
In this case, the issue is clear. The Philippines needs wider access to practical and affordable electrified mobility. BYD brought the technology, scale, and manufacturing strength required to accelerate that transition.
Its greatest advantage, according to Jaime Alfonso, lies in vertical integration.
Unlike many automakers that depend heavily on outside suppliers, BYD controls much of its own supply chain, particularly in battery production. Since the company originally built its reputation as one of the world’s largest battery manufacturers, it maintains direct access to key raw materials and production processes.
This creates a major cost advantage.
A simple way to understand it is to compare it to building a house. A developer that owns the cement plant, steel supplier, and construction company will naturally operate with greater efficiency than one purchasing every material from separate vendors. BYD applies the same principle to electric vehicles, making pricing more competitive, especially in emerging markets like the Philippines.
That cost efficiency matters because electric vehicle adoption is reaching an important turning point.
In 2025, electrified vehicles accounted for 12 percent of all vehicles sold in the country, a threshold that signals a meaningful shift in consumer behavior. New energy vehicle sales surged from 23,000 units in 2024 to nearly 60,000 in 2025.
Battery electric vehicle sales tripled, while hybrid sales more than doubled.
Even before global fuel market disruptions linked to the Middle East crisis, demand was already accelerating. ACMobility expects that momentum to become even stronger as consumers look for alternatives that offer better long-term efficiency and reduced dependence on traditional fuel costs.
Recognizing this shift early, ACMobility deliberately expanded its electrified vehicle lineup.
From only five electrified models in 2023, the company now offers 21 models spanning battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and hybrid technologies.
Its portfolio includes distribution operations for BYD and Kia, alongside exclusive retail operations for Isuzu and Denza.
The results are visible. Nearly 60 percent of ACMobility’s retail sales last year came from electrified models requiring charging, either battery electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles. That is a sharp rise from just 23 percent the previous year.
This transformation also has support from influential business leaders beyond Ayala.
DMCI Group chairman Isidro Consunji has openly expressed satisfaction as a multiple BYD owner, while even a former cabinet official has reportedly praised the brand’s performance.
That kind of endorsement matters in a market where trust and word-of-mouth often shape major purchasing decisions.
For ACMobility, however, the objective extends beyond selling more vehicles. The broader strategy is ecosystem control: charging infrastructure, stronger strategic partnerships, and a wider selection of models that make EV ownership more practical for Filipino consumers.
The company is also targeting profitability in 2026, and current momentum suggests that goal is increasingly realistic.
As the only son of Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Jaime Alfonso is not merely managing another business unit. He is steering one of the country’s largest conglomerates into a market that may define the next decade of transportation.
And judging by the pace of investment, he has no intention of slowing down.
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