The highlights of the 2026 Manila International Auto Show
It’s been a day since the 2026 Manila International Auto Show came to a close, and it’s been one heck of an experience for everyone involved. While the conditions and crowds have been notable for being less than ideal for almost everyone, that’s not the main focus of this article.
Rather, this is the first time that we’ve seen a majority of the brands present at the show (save for Kia) be Chinese, with many dubbing it CIAS. This can be interpreted as a huge paradigm shift for our automotive industry, further exacerbated by the ongoing fuel crisis caused by the conflict in the Middle East.
Most, if not all, of the brands had electrified offerings on display, where the general public’s interest has shifted, and it is a sign of the times to come. In fact, the show reports that it has surpassed last year’s visitor tally of 170,000 with 180,600 registered visitors. Here are several highlights from the show that we think are worth mentioning:
BYD Sealion 7
Apart from the Atto 2, BYD Cars Philippines showed off the Sealion 7, and it’s a full premium EV offering that’s aiming straight at the likes of the Tesla Model Y, Toyota bZ4x, and the like. It’s a performance-oriented model too, which might potentially come in a sole Performance AWD variant, and it’s now open for reservations with an indicative price range of Php 2.5-million to 2.6-million.
READ: MIAS 2026 | BYD Atto 2 and Sealion 7 previewed in PH, both launching this year
Changan CS55 Plus
The brand’s popular crossover offering, the CS55 Plus, got a preview at the motor show, and Changan Philippines says that this will be powered by a plug-in hybrid powertrain, which could become its flagship PHEV offering. There are no official specifications yet, but it’s a major overhaul compared to the previous model, inside and out.
READ: MIAS 2026 | Changan PH launches all-new CS35 Max, previews updated CS55 Plus
Denza Z9 GT
Technically, not the first time we saw the vehicle, but for the rest of the public, this is their first time seeing the flagship shooting brake from BYD’s premium arm, which will eventually come to the market.
The Denza Z9 GT is available in both BEV and PHEV variants, but the battery-electric variant has the honor of being one of the longest-range EVs in the world, being capable of driving up to 1,036km on a single charge, alongside a total power output of 1,155 horsepower from its three-motor powertrain.
READ: The sleek Denza Z9 GT shooting brake will be coming to the PH
Deepal S05
The premium arm of Changan, Deepal, finally made its brand debut with three offerings. However, the most interesting of the three is S05. Despite being a tier above, you can find this crossover with a starting price of Php 1,588,000 for the BEV (which will follow later this year) and Php 1,688,000 for the range-extended electric vehicle (REEV) variant.
It has a lot of tech inside, a sleek design, and a generous amount of driving range, with the REEV’s combined range going as high as 1,234km, and the BEV’s maximum range of up to 458km.
READ: MIAS 2026 | Deepal shows off its initial lineup for the PH
GAC GS8 HEV
GAC’s flagship GS8 SUV finally gets electrified, and the GS8 HEV midsize SUV is priced at Php 2,488,000. What makes this different from other hybrid offerings is that, apart from it being all-wheel drive, it uses GAC’s Mega Wave THS hybrid system which was co-developed with Toyota.
It pairs a 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine, a 1.73kWh nickel-metal hydride battery, two electric motors, and a CVT for a combined power output of 237 horsepower and 391Nm of torque. Aside from that, it’s very similar to its gasoline-powered variant inside and out, apart from a slightly redesigned front and rear fascia, and new 20-inch alloy wheels with “floating” center caps.
Geely EX2
On the more affordable side of the electric vehicle segment, Geely Motor Philippines previewed its EX2 full electric hatchback, with the automaker already accepting early reservations for the car. This is set to be the automaker’s second battery electric vehicle in our market, and also its most affordable one yet, competing with the likes of the BYD Seagull. In fact, this is the best-selling battery electric vehicle in China for 2025.
READ: MIAS 2026 | Geely Motor PH opens reservations for the all-electric EX2 hatchback
GWM Tank 700
GWM showed off three vehicles at the auto show, but what truly stole the spotlight was its Tank 700 Hi4-Z plug-in hybrid SUV. While still a preview, we’re the first market outside of China to receive its flagship off-roader SUV, which came out just two weeks ago.
There are no official Philippine specs yet, but what China is getting is truly a monstrous SUV. It has LiDAR tech for the advanced safety systems, and a powerful plug-in hybrid system that mates a 2.0-liter turbo gasoline engine with dual electric motors and a 59.05kWh battery. This is capable of a total power output of around 851 horsepower, with an all-electric range of up to 156km (WLTP) and a combined figure of up to 977km (WLTP).
Jetour Gaia G700
Two Chinese brands unveiled their halo products (Denza not included because they entered the market prior), with Jetour being one of them with the Gaia G700. This Php 4,488,000 plug-in hybrid SUV goes toe to toe with the likes of the Toyota Land Cruiser 300 and Nissan Patrol, and has crazy numbers like 904 horsepower, 1,135Nm of torque, an all-electric range figure of up to 100km, and a maximum combined range figure of up to 984km, all with its off-roading capabilities on top.
READ: MIAS 2026 | Jetour Auto PH aims for the high end with the Gaia G700
Jaecoo J5
Omoda & Jaecoo Philippines unveiled its compact hybrid crossover, the J5 SHS-H. What makes this special is its starting price tag of Php 999,000, which makes it one of the first hybrid electric vehicles you can buy for under a million, and it also comes with bonus points for being a crossover that resembles its higher-end siblings, including a combined estimated range of around 980km from its self-charging hybrid powertrain.
READ: MIAS 2026 | The Jaecoo J5 SHS-H has been launched with prices starting at Php 999K
Kia EV5
Being the only non-Chinese brand to launch a vehicle at this motor show, Kia Philippines is also targeting the more mainstream EV segment with its EV5 crossover after it hit the premium segment with the EV6 and the EV9. With a starting price of Php 2,298,000, a practical compact crossover body, the same “Opposites United” design language inside and out, and a decent amount of range of either up to 400km or 550km on a single charge, it offers an alternative to the likes of the Chinese, American, and Japanese EVs.
READ: MIAS 2026 | The Kia EV5 has arrived in PH with up to 550km of range, Php 2.298M starting price
