The BYD Sealion 5 DM-i is the newest taxi fleet in Benguet

Unlike a certain EV taxi company’s entry which was heavily opposed by the local government of Baguio City, a fleet of BYD Sealion 5 DM-i is now entering service in the neighboring town of La Trinidad, Benguet.

BYD Cars Philippines, and dealer partner SEAelectric, handed over a total of 20 units of the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) subcompact crossover to Highland Transport Service Cooperative (HTSC), all of which will be operating around the Northern Luzon region.

With the new fleet, operating costs are expected to be reduced for taxi drivers working under HTSC, while passengers will get quieter commutes, especially with the region being dominated by diesel-powered taxis such as the Toyota Innova and Revo, Mitsubishi Adventure, and Isuzu Crosswind, among others.

For HTSC, the deployment of the BYD Sealion 5 DM-i as the newest addition to its fleet supports its ongoing re-fleeting program aimed at modernizing transport services and improving long-term operational efficiency.

“At BYD Cars Philippines, we are focused on advancing l clean energy solutions and supporting the transition toward more responsible and greener transportation. The deployment of the first BYD Sealion 5 DM-i taxi fleet in the La Trinidad and Cordillera region highlights how it delivers an innovative, efficient, and cost-effective solution that performs well beyond city roads, supporting operators navigating the varied terrain of Benguet and surrounding areas,”said BYD Cars Philippines Managing Director Bob Palanca.