EV
Toyota bZ4X goes on sale
Toyota Motor Philippines has started retail sales of its first battery electric vehicle under the Toyota brand, the all new bZ4X. The company said the first units were released to customers on December 11.
TMP positioned the bZ4X as part of its multi pathway approach to carbon neutral mobility. The company said it has built its electrified lineup over time, starting with the Prius hybrid in 2009. TMP also said it now offers 22 electrified models across Toyota and Lexus in the Philippines.
The bZ4X sold locally is an all wheel drive model. It uses a 73.11 kWh lithium ion battery and dual motors. TMP listed outputs of 227 PS in front and 120 PS at the rear, with 269 Nm of torque in front and 170 Nm at the rear. The company said the vehicle can reach up to 570 km of range under UN Regulation 101, with actual results depending on conditions and driving habits. Drive modes include Eco and X Mode.
On the outside, TMP highlighted an angular design, LED headlamps, 20 inch alloy wheels, and a panoramic moonroof. Ground clearance is 200 mm. The vehicle seats five. A power back door with a kick sensor is included.
TMP said the bZ4X comes with synthetic leather seats and generous second row space. Both front and rear seats have heating. The front seats also have ventilation. The driver gets an eight way power seat with memory settings.
For tech and convenience, TMP listed a 7 inch digital meter cluster and multi information display, plus a 14 inch display audio system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The bZ4X also gets dual wireless charging ports in front and USB Type C ports for front and rear passengers.
TMP said the model comes with Toyota Safety Sense, including Pre Collision System, Automatic High Beam, Adaptive High Beam System, Lane Tracing Assist, Lane Departure Alert, and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control. Blind Spot and Panoramic View Monitors are included. A digital inside rearview mirror adds another visibility aid.
Each purchase comes with a free wall box charger and a portable charger.
“It takes time and strategic planning to roll out what we call our multi pathway approach to carbon neutral mobility, which involves customer education and preparedness, and providing technologies and solutions that are most appropriate for the market’s needs. From building up our widest lineup of Hybrid Electric Vehicles and introducing Battery Electric Vehicles through our luxury brand Lexus, we believe we’re ready to make BEVs more mainstream with the Toyota bZ4X, especially with Filipino users’ better understanding of EV technologies and power mix along with improving charging infrastructure,” shared TMP First Vice President for Vehicle Sales Operations Elijah Marcial.
Early buyers pointed to fuel costs, charging access, and brand trust. One customer said, “A lot of my friends are getting electric and hybrid cars. I saw the advantages since I spend so much on fuel. I commute daily from Quezon City to Caloocan City, and even Nuvali three times a week. In Nuvali there are a lot of charging stations and during the weekdays most of them are available, so I don’t feel any range anxiety.” Another customer said, “It’s hard to bet on new players in the market. I’ve been a Toyota owner since the ‘80s, so I’m confident with their service and parts. When we get a car, my family doesn’t re sell, so for sure the bZ4X will be with us for the long run.”
TMP said the bZ4X will be sold in one variant, with pricing that depends on the two tone colorway. Prices start at PHP 2,699,000 and go up to PHP 2,719,000. Initial availability covers selected dealerships, including Toyota Alabang, Toyota Commonwealth, Toyota Global City, Toyota Mabolo Cebu, Toyota Makati, Toyota Manila Bay, Toyota Mandaue South, Toyota North EDSA, Toyota Pasig, Toyota Quezon Avenue, Toyota San Fernando, and Toyota Santa Rosa.
BDO Unibank is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a nationwide raffle that gives customers a chance to win five Toyota Ativ Hybrid cars and 250 SM Gift Passes.
The BDO 50th Anniversary Raffle runs from August to December 2026 and is open to eligible clients of BDO Unibank and BDO Network Bank.
New customers may join by opening a qualified deposit account, completing a one-time online registration and maintaining the required balance. Existing clients can earn entries by adding to their deposits and registering online.
The raffle has five draws. Customers who qualify in August can win one of 50 SM Gift Passes worth P5,000 each during the first draw on 14 September.
Another 50 gift passes will be awarded on 14 October to customers who qualify in September.
The next two draws will add hybrid cars to the prizes. Customers who qualify in October can win one Toyota Ativ Hybrid and one of 50 gift passes on 14 November. The same set of prizes will be awarded to November qualifiers during the 14 December draw.
All eligible entries earned from August to December will be included in the grand draw on 14 January 2027. Three Toyota Ativ Hybrid cars and another 50 SM Gift Passes will be given away during the final draw.
BDO introduced the raffle as a thanksgiving program for clients who have supported the bank during its first five decades.
The bank has served Filipinos through different stages of their financial lives, from opening an account for a first salary to saving for a home, education, business or retirement.
Financial habits have changed considerably during that period as mobile apps and online services made many banking transactions available without a branch visit. Customers have also started saving for a wider range of goals, including emergency funds, travel, investments and small businesses.
BDO said it will continue adapting its services as customer needs and banking habits change.
Mitsubishi is bringing back the ASX name for a new battery-electric model in Australia, where the 2027 ASX VR-e is scheduled to arrive in showrooms in the fourth quarter of 2026.
The new EV is not related to the gasoline-powered ASX currently sold in Australia. Instead, it is based on the Foxtron Bria, an electric vehicle developed in Taiwan by Foxtron, the automotive arm of electronics manufacturer Foxconn.
Mitsubishi has carried out local testing and development for Australia and New Zealand, while also giving the vehicle its own exterior and interior details.
The ASX VR-e name combines two familiar Mitsubishi badges. ASX stands for Active Sports Crossover, while VR-e takes inspiration from the VR-4 designation previously used on performance models such as the Galant VR-4.
Four variants are planned for Australia, namely LS, Aspire, Exceed and GSR.
Mitsubishi has so far released only limited technical information for the ASX VR-e, but the Foxtron Bria on which it is based is offered with rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations.
The rear-wheel-drive version uses a single electric motor producing 171 kW, or about 229 hp, and can accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in 6.8 seconds. The dual-motor all-wheel-drive version develops 298 kW, or about 400 hp, and cuts the sprint to 3.9 seconds.
Both versions use a 57.5-kWh lithium iron phosphate battery. The Bria is rated at up to 516 km of range under the NEDC test cycle for the rear-wheel-drive model, while the all-wheel-drive version is rated at 466 km.
Estimated WLTP figures are lower at around 430 km and 400 km, respectively. DC fast charging is rated at up to 134 kW, with a 10 to 80 percent charge said to take about 30 minutes.
The ASX VR-e measures 4,315 mm long, 1,885 mm wide and 1,535 mm tall, with a 2,800-mm wheelbase. Its dimensions place it in the small crossover and hatchback class.
Changes from the Foxtron version include Mitsubishi badging, revised daytime running lights, different alloy wheels and interior trim. The vehicle also uses an S-duct through the front fascia and active grille shutters to help reduce aerodynamic drag.
Expected equipment includes a 15.6-inch infotainment display, 9.2-inch digital instrument panel, power-adjustable front seats, a 360-degree camera, glass roof and ambient lighting.
Mitsubishi Motors Australia CEO Shunichi Kihara described the ASX VR-e as the brand’s first battery-electric vehicle in Australia since the i-MiEV and part of Mitsubishi’s wider electrification plans under its Momentum 2030 strategy.
Pricing and final Australian specifications will be announced closer to its launch later this year.
Lexus Philippines has introduced the all-new ES with two hybrid variants and the nameplate’s first battery-electric model, giving the executive sedan its broadest powertrain lineup to date.
The eighth-generation ES will be available as the ES 350h Executive, ES 350h Luxury and fully electric ES 350e. Retail sales are scheduled to begin in the third week of August.
Prices start at P4,108,000 for the ES 350h Executive, while the ES 350h Luxury costs P4,308,000. The ES 350e sits at the top of the range at P5,688,000.
The arrival of the electric variant is the biggest change to the lineup, although the new ES also adopts a larger body and a longer wheelbase. The added length gives rear passengers more space, an important improvement for a sedan often used with a chauffeur.
Its exterior follows Lexus’ latest design direction, with a cleaner front section and a low, wide stance. The spindle shape remains visible in the bodywork, while the lighting and other graphic elements create a more modern interpretation of the familiar ES profile.
Both ES 350h variants use a 2.5-liter gasoline-electric hybrid system producing 247 PS. The setup is designed to deliver smoother power and lower fuel consumption without requiring external charging.
The ES 350e uses a front-mounted electric motor with an output of 224 PS. Lexus Philippines lists its battery capacity at 74.69 kWh, giving the ES its first fully electric drivetrain since the nameplate was introduced in 1989.
Cabin technology includes a 14-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The new ES also uses Arene, Toyota Motor Corp.’s vehicle software platform that supports more than 200 functions across the car.
Equipment varies by model. The ES 350h Executive comes with a Back Guide Monitor, while the ES 350h Luxury and ES 350e receive a Panoramic View Monitor for a wider view of the vehicle’s surroundings.
Rear-seat comfort remains a priority, particularly in the Luxury and electric variants. Available features include reclining rear seats, an ottoman and controls that allow passengers to adjust their seating position and cabin settings.
The all-new ES also receives the latest Lexus Safety System+, which combines driver-assistance features intended to reduce the risk of a collision and support the driver in different road conditions.
Lexus Philippines President Masando Hashimoto said the new ES reflects the company’s direction as it gives customers a choice between hybrid and fully electric power.
The expanded lineup allows long-time ES buyers to remain with the familiar self-charging hybrid system, while the ES 350e provides a new option for customers ready to move to a battery-electric luxury sedan.
