BYD Sealion 5 taxi fleet debuts in Cordillera

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — SEAelectric, the official dealer of China’s electric vehicle brand BYD in Northern Luzon, has delivered 20 Sealion 5 DM-i units to Highland Transport Service Cooperative (HTSC), launching what it said is the Philippines’ first taxi fleet using the model in the Cordillera region.

The turnover marks the rollout of the first BYD Sealion 5 DM-i taxis operating in La Trinidad and nearby Cordillera routes, an area known for steep and mountainous terrain.

SEAelectric said the deployment supports the region’s re-fleeting program and broader push toward cleaner transport by integrating electric vehicles into public utility fleets.

HTSC will operate the dual-mode vehicles across La Trinidad, Benguet and key Cordillera corridors.

The Sealion 5 DM-i combines electric power with a fuel engine, offering extended driving range and improved efficiency suited for hilly routes, the company said.

SEAelectric Chief Executive Glenn Yu said the partnership positions HTSC at the forefront of the region’s transition to electric mobility.

“Partnering with HTSC allows us to bring reliable, efficient electric transport to La Trinidad and the Cordillera region and soon, the rest of Northern Luzon,” Yu said in a statement.

SEAelectric said the partnership includes vehicle maintenance, after-sales support and access to charging infrastructure to ensure continuous operations.

The dealer operates seven showrooms and service centers across La Union, Baguio City, Tuguegarao and Ilocos Norte as it expands BYD’s electric vehicle footprint in Northern Luzon.

The Cordillera rollout adds to growing efforts nationwide to modernize public transport fleets with lower-emission vehicles amid rising fuel costs and environmental concerns.