Ayala Corp. aims to capture a larger share of the market by 2030, when it expects battery EVs to account for 20 percent of new car sales, said Zobel, who was recently named CEO of AC Mobility.
AC Mobility, formerly known as AC Motors, carries several car brands such as Kia, Volkswagen, Honda and Isuzu.
But its extensive portfolio, along with those of its competitors, has significantly lagged behind the Japanese market leader, Toyota.
Ayala sees a chance to seize market leadership in the EV sector by outpacing competitors, capitalizing on soaring gas prices, and leveraging the incentives provided by the new EV law of 2022.
Ayala is building its dreams with the more recent introduction of Chinese car maker BYD in its portfolio.
Zobel said BYD, which has a long track record of building reliable batteries, supercharged sales. He said AC Mobility currently corners three out of four battery EVs sold in the Philippines.
Zobel said power interruptions could affect parts of its charging network, which are the industry’s equivalent for gas stations.
But he said they have solutions to address this, such as backup battery facilities.
By leveraging on locations of affiliates such as Integrated Micro-electronics Inc. and Ayala Land, AC Mobility is targeting to have 100 stations in about 50 locations toward the end of the year, Zobel said.
Miguel R. Camus has been a reporter covering various domestic business topics since 2009.
