AION officially enters the Philippine market

A few days ago, GAC AION's first flagship showroom in Makati City, the core business district of Manila, the capital of the Philippines, was officially opened, a move that signalled AION's formal entry into the Philippine market.

GAC AION also announced the establishment of partnerships with dealerships in three major cities in the Philippines. according to GAC AION, this move not only highlights its ability to rapidly lay out its footprint in the Philippine market, but also demonstrates its strong determination to deeply penetrate into the Southeast Asian market and promote the popularisation of electric vehicles.

As the fourth largest auto market in ASEAN, the Philippines has a large population and huge potential. From January to June this year, passenger cars even achieved a year-on-year growth of 17.8% against the trend. At the same time, the Philippine government actively encourages and supports the development of new energy.

In September this year, according to foreign media reports, the Philippine Department of Energy (DOE) is drafting a new guideline on the construction of electric vehicle charging infrastructure at petrol stations. If the draft becomes law, petrol stations may be required to install, operate or maintain a charging station for commercial use on their premises.

On top of this, the Philippine DOE is also planning to release a new version of its ‘Comprehensive Electric Vehicle Sector Roadmap’ this month, which, according to the 2023 version, details ‘specific objectives and activities to ensure a sustainable and equitable transition to electrification in the country's transport sector

And just a few months ago, the Philippine government also decided to extend the tax exemption for EV imports until 2028.

GAC AION Southeast Asia Sales Director Kim Yong-bo said that the Philippines, as a highly promising automotive market in ASEAN, coupled with the government's active support for electric vehicles, provides AION with a wide scope for growth. He revealed that based on this, AION will continue to expand its sales and service network.