Ayala optimistic its mobility business can supercharge Philippines’ EV transition

MANILA – Ayala Corporation is bullish on the potential of ACMobility (formerly AC Motors) to support the inevitable EV transition in the country.

At Ayala Corporation’s media briefing on Friday, ACMobility CEO Jaime Alfonso Zobel de Ayala reiterated the company’s goal of pioneering the first EV ecosystem, a key step to supporting the country’s EV transition.

“In the short term, our focus is to set up the local EV ecosystem by bringing in a compelling line-up of four-wheel EVs as well as by widening the charging infrastructure, store footprint, and our internal capabilities,” he said.

“We recognize that the shift towards clean technology will take time to materialize. Thus, our focus today is to enable that transition,” he added.

Last year, ACMobility became the official national distributor of BYD, the largest manufacturer of plug-in hybrid and pure electric vehicles in the world. BYD currently has 3 dealers across the country, and ACMobility intends to increase this to up to 20 dealers this year. Next week, ACMobility is set to open a BYD dealership in Cebu, the first outside of Metro Manila.

Aside from expanding its dealer network, ACMobility is also ensuring competitive pricing for its EV line-up. “Our local line-up is the widest in the market with prices, ranging from under P1.4 million to over P3.0 million. As cost is a key consideration for the broader market, each model is also priced competitively against their ICE and hybrid alternatives,” Zobel said.

ACMobility, together with Ayala Land and Integrated Micro-electronics, Inc., launched a network of 33 EV charging stations in 16 locations across the country last year. Ayala group aims to add 100 more stations in at least 40 locations within the year.

“We are actively engaging potential institutional partners for the rollout of charging stations. We believe that more players and more investments are necessary for the public to become comfortable with the availability of charging, and to reach the government’s goal of over 7,000 charging stations by 2030,” Zobel said.

The company also entered into a strategic partnership with Bosch to incorporate integrated vehicle technology in its aftersales operations. Bosch Car Service will offer mechanical repairs to intricate electronics, engine systems, safety features, comfort upgrades, transmission expertise, and a host of other services and diagnostics.

Last month, AC Industrials, the parent company of ACMobility, signed an MOU with Bosch Philippines to explore new business opportunities for the mutual benefit of both parties and development of the Philippines market. AC Industrials and Bosch Philippines intend to explore potential business activities in various industries, including mobility solutions, manufacturing, energy, and healthcare, among others.

Amid these developments, the company rebranded itself from AC Motors to ACMobility. This rebrand reflects the company’s transformation from being predominantly focused on selling automotive vehicles to an end-to-end mobility provider that encompasses services, infrastructure, and eventually digital platforms, among others.

This rebrand is also aligned with the company’s goal to be the leading mobility provider in the Philippines by the end of this decade. “We believe by 2030, EVs will comprise up to 20% of new car sales. We intend to capture a significant share of that figure,” Zobel said.