AC Mobility-led BYD Cars Philippines makes its entry into the mid-size MPV market with the launch of the all-new BYD eMAX 9 DM-i, with a public unveiling event held on opening day of the 13th Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit. This comes just a month after launching the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version of their flagship SUV, the Tang. Serving as the brand’s flagship seven-seater van this time, the eMAX 9 also benefits from the brand’s Super DM-i powertrain, along with countless amenities and features.
The vehicle showcases BYD’s distinctive Dragon Face design language, complemented by signature LED lighting and 18-inch alloy wheels. Inside, the eMAX 9 features a pair of captain seats on the second row. In the Premium version, both captain seats are power-adjustable with lumbar support, headrest with side wings, and a power-adjustable leg rest. The Advanced variant also comes with captain seats, but they are only manually adjustable. The third row comes with seating for three passengers and can be split-folded 60:40. The Premium variant’s third row benefits from power-adjustment for folding, while the Advanced is only manual-adjustment. For extra pampering, the driver and second-row captain seats are ventilated and also come with a massage function for the Premium version. The Advanced, on the other hand, only gets a ventilated function for the driver’s seat.
Other features include full leather upholstery, a three-zone climate control system, an 8 or 12-speaker audio system (depending on the variant), a power sunroof, a 50W wireless charger, smart keyless entry, tray tables for the second row, a power tailgate, a 360-degree camera system, front & rear parking sensors, and a host of USB and Type-C charging ports. Infotainment comes in the form of a 15.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It supports both wireless Android Auto & Apple CarPlay, and comes with BYD Cloud Services, over-the-air (OTA) updating, intelligent voice assistant, and 4G connectivity.
Technological amenities include a large 15.6-inch infotainment system, with the Premium model boasting a 12-speaker sound system and a sunroof, while the Advanced model comes with an 8-speaker system.
The core of the eMAX 9 DM-i’s performance is BYD’s cutting-edge Super DM-i Technology. This hybrid system pairs a high-power electric motor with a 1.5-liter turbocharged generator, delivering a total system output of 271 PS and 315 Nm of torque. This setup allows the MPV to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in a swift 8.5 seconds. The Premium variant is equipped with a 36.6 kWh battery, providing up to 170 km of pure-electric range, while the Advanced model features a 20.4 kWh battery for 95 km of electric driving. Crucially, both variants achieve a combined range exceeding 945 km, with the Premium reaching up to 1,000 km.
This extended range was recently validated in an Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP)-certified efficiency run. A premium variant of the eMAX 9 DM-i covered a total of 1,261.2 km—on a single full tank and one full battery charge—during a trip across Northern Luzon, surpassing the estimated range. The vehicle supports up to 7 kW AC and 73 kW DC fast charging, allowing the battery to charge from 30% to 80% in under 20 minutes using a DC fast charger. Furthermore, the eMAX 9 DM-i includes Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) technology, turning the MPV into a mobile power source for various external devices.
Safety-wise, the BYD eMAX 9 DM-i is available with the brand’s DiPilot suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), which is standard on the Premium variant. This gives it a host of intelligent driver aids like adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, rear collision warning with rear-cross traffic alert, intelligent high beams, lane departure assist, blind-spot detection, and emergency lane-keeping assist. The Premium variant is further enhanced with the DiSus-C intelligent damping suspension system.
The BYD eMAX 9 DM-i is available in three colours: Cosmos Black, Deep Sea Blue, and Aurora White. The Advanced variant is priced at P2,678,000 while the top-tier Premium model retails for P2,998,000. Both are supported by a comprehensive warranty package, including 8 years or 160,000 km for the Blade Battery and drive unit, and 6 years or 150,000 km for the vehicle itself.
