Chinese EV leader BYD makes aggressive push in ASEAN

Rising Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD plans to roughly double its sales outlets in Singapore and the Philippines together as it pursues aggressive expansion in ASEAN after launching in Indonesia recently.

The automaker, which has grown to rival Elon Musk's Tesla as the world's top EV manufacturer, wants to open more than a dozen sales outlets for passenger cars this year alone in Singapore and the Philippines, according to its managing director for both markets, James Ng.

Ng spoke to Nikkei Asia on Wednesday at the launch of a new facility to train EV mechanics in western Singapore. The facility is a joint project with NTUC LearningHub, the training and education arm of the city-state's umbrella labor union, the National Trades Union Congress.

"If you look at ASEAN market ... in terms of culture ... [it is] near to the culture of China," he said. "So basically whatever products we produce, the behavior from these consumers from ASEAN signifies the recognition of BYD."

In mid-January, China's top EV maker launched three passenger models in Indonesia, introducing its Seal sedan, Atto 3 sports utility vehicle and Dolphin hatchback at a ceremony in Jakarta as it makes a foray ဝငျရောကျ into the largest economy in the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

In Singapore and the Philippines, BYD works with local distributors to sell its EVs, Ng said, having struck partnerships with the automotive group Sime Darby Motors in the city-state and the Philippine conglomerate Ayala to grow its sales network for passenger cars.

Ayala last year entered a deal to sell BYD's electric vehicles in its home market. Under the agreement, Ayala's automobile division, AC Motors, is expected to handle sales and maintenance for BYD's EVs through its network.

In the Philippines, Ng said BYD has a network of over 10 dealers and is looking to add more than 20 sales points this year.

In Singapore, he said BYD plans to open two or three more outlets, up from the current crop of seven outlets, which include showrooms and also cafes where customers can dine and purchase BYD products.

(BYD's joint project with the training and education arm of Singapore’s umbrella labor union aims to train 500 skilled EV mechanics a year. (Photo by Dylan Loh)

Ref:  Chinese EV leader BYD makes aggressive push in ASEAN  (asia.nikkei) 

 Photo Credit:  Dylan Loh