Industry News
Driver’s Seat Deal
Xpress offers zero commission to TNVS drivers
Filipino-owned Xpress Super App has launched Xpress Go, a new TNVS driver program that gives qualified drivers zero commission for their first 60 days on the platform.
The program opened on June 12 and will accept sign-ups until August 31, 2026. It is limited to 500 driver slots in Metro Manila, with priority given to drivers using hybrid or electric vehicles, or those committing to shift through Xpress’ vehicle financing partnership with Cebuana Lhuillier or its partners.
Under Xpress Go, drivers who sign up and activate within the program period will keep 100 percent of their fares during their first 60 days. After the relief period, they will move to a permanent 12 percent commission rate, locked in writing until December 31, 2026.
The package also includes a vehicle branding program that gives drivers an additional ₱4,000 per month for carrying the Xpress Go decal, milestone bonuses of up to ₱5,000 based on verified trip volume, and a referral program that pays ₱1,000 each to the referrer and the qualified new driver once the new driver completes 100 trips within 30 days.
Xpress said the program is backed by a ₱30 million commitment aimed at helping drivers cope with fuel costs while supporting the shift to cleaner mobility.
Based on company estimates, a driver completing 10 to 12 trips a day at an average fare of ₱300 could keep between ₱18,000 and ₱21,600 more per month compared with a 20 percent commission platform. Across the 60-day period, that could reach ₱36,000 to ₱43,000 before bonuses, branding payments or referral incentives.
Xpress Super App president Cliff Cabungcal said the program reflects the company’s push to reinvest in Filipino drivers while supporting the adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles.
“Electric and hybrid vehicles are that path. But making the shift is hard. We know what that transition costs a driver and we know it can’t fall on them alone,” Cabungcal said.
Xpress was incorporated in March 2022 and officially launched in July 2024. The company operates across Metro Manila, Bataan, Pampanga, Laguna, Dumaguete and Boracay, with services covering ride-hailing, corporate mobility and island transport.
The company said it has acquired more than 120 hybrid and electric vehicles and has built partnerships with BYD and Cebuana Lhuillier to support the transition to cleaner mobility. It is also exploring the expansion of its EV fleet with GAC and Hongqi.
Metro Manila TNVS drivers may sign up through the Xpress website, the Xpress Driver App, activation booths across NCR or the official Ka-Xpress Partners Facebook page. Required documents include a professional driver’s license, NBI clearance, vehicle OR/CR, LTFRB Provisional Authority or active TNVS franchise, and proof of insurance.
VF 5 Opens EV Earnings Route
VinFast is positioning the VF 5 as both a daily electric vehicle and a possible income tool through its Rentapasada program, which gives transport service drivers a lower-cost way to enter ride-hailing operations.
The VF 5 is a five-seat, all-electric A-segment SUV aimed at buyers watching not only the purchase price, but also long-term running costs. Fuel, maintenance and daily operating expenses can influence ownership costs over several years, especially for motorists who drive often.
Metro Manila owner Carlo Santos said he compared the VF 5 with gasoline-powered crossovers before buying the EV. He said the difference became clearer after he calculated fuel and maintenance expenses.
Based on VinFast’s example, a gasoline crossover consuming around 6.8 liters per 100 kilometers would use about 68 liters of fuel for 1,000 kilometers of monthly driving. At a Metro Manila gasoline price of P87.25 per liter as of 9 June 2026, that would cost close to P6,000 a month. VinFast said the VF 5’s energy costs may be more than 50 percent lower for the same distance.
The savings could be bigger for transport service drivers. A driver covering around 200 kilometers a day with the same gasoline consumption rate would use roughly 408 liters of fuel each month, equal to about P35,600 in fuel costs alone at the cited pump price.
VinFast is tying that advantage to Rentapasada, a rental program designed to help Filipinos join the ride-hailing and transport service sector through Green GSM’s platform. The VF 5 is one of two models available under the program, alongside the seven-seater Limo Green.
Rental rates start at P1,000 per day, allowing drivers to operate without the large upfront cost usually required for vehicle ownership. Drivers who meet qualifying ride targets may also receive free charging at V-Green charging stations, which can further reduce daily operating costs.
The program offers a fixed five-year contract, with an option to extend for another three years. VinFast said this gives drivers a more predictable setup for building a long-term source of income.
The VF 5 is powered by a 100 kW electric motor and offers up to 326 kilometers of range. It also comes with six airbags, seven advanced driver assistance features, 16 smart functions, blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The vehicle is covered by a seven-year warranty, while the battery has a 10-year warranty.
With Rentapasada, VinFast is pitching the VF 5 beyond private use. The EV can serve as a family car, commuter vehicle or income-generating unit for drivers looking to lower fuel expenses while entering the transport service market.
BYD deploys first Sealion 5 DM-i taxi fleet
BYD Cars Philippines has rolled out the country’s first Sealion 5 DM-i taxi fleet through the deployment of 20 units to Highland Transport Service Cooperative in Northern Luzon.
The fleet was launched in La Trinidad, Benguet with dealer partner SEAelectric, supporting HTSC’s re-fleeting program for transport services in the Cordillera region.
The Sealion 5 DM-i units will be used for taxi operations across La Trinidad and nearby Cordillera areas, where operators face varied terrain and daily passenger demand. The plug-in hybrid SUV uses BYD’s Super DM-i technology, which is designed to deliver electric-first driving, extended range and lower fuel consumption.
BYD Cars Philippines said the deployment aims to reduce operating costs for drivers while giving passengers a quieter and more comfortable ride. The company also positions the fleet as part of its broader push for cleaner and more efficient mobility solutions suited to local transport operators.
Bob Palanca, managing director of BYD Cars Philippines, said the Sealion 5 DM-i fleet shows how the model can serve operators beyond city use, especially in areas such as Benguet where road and terrain conditions differ from urban routes.
The handover gathered representatives from BYD Cars Philippines, SEAelectric and HTSC. Present during the event were Joel Sevilla, general manager of BYD La Union; Palanca; Pastor Joel Tabingan, vice chairman of HTSC; Marwin Cabading, chairman of HTSC; Glenn Yu, chief executive officer of SEAelectric Philippines and dealer of BYD Baguio; and Francis Yu, chairman of SEAOIL and dealer principal of SEAelectric Philippines.
BYD Cars Philippines is the local distributor of BYD passenger vehicles under ACMobility, the mobility arm of Ayala Corporation. The brand currently operates through 81 authorized dealerships in key locations nationwide, including Quezon Avenue, Makati, Bonifacio Global City, Greenfield Mandaluyong, Cebu, Davao, Pampanga, Fairview, Commonwealth, Alabang, Cagayan de Oro and Bacolod.
ACMobility also distributes Kia, operates select dealerships for BYD, Kia and Isuzu, and has entered the luxury electric vehicle segment through DENZA. The company has also expanded its electric vehicle charging network to more than 200 locations nationwide.
Toyota Motor Asia has named seven Global Team Toyota Athletes from six Southeast Asian countries as it builds its roster for the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games and Asian Para Games.
The refreshed line-up includes Olympic gymnastics champion Carlos Yulo and Paralympic swimmer Ernie Gawilan, who continue to represent the Philippines after joining the program in 2024. They are joined by returning athletes from Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, along with two new para-athletes from Indonesia and Malaysia.
New additions are Indonesian para cyclist Muhammad Fadli Imamuddin and Malaysian para-athletics sprinter Muhammad Ammar Aiman Nor Azmi. Fadli began as a professional motorcycle racer before a 2015 racing incident led him to para cycling. He returned to competition in 2017 and won gold at the 2025 ASEAN Para Games. Ammar Aiman rose from school competitions to the international level, winning gold at the 2022 Asian Para Games and silver at the 2025 ASEAN Para Games.
The full roster also includes Singapore’s Toh Wei Soong in para swimming, Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn in badminton and Vietnam’s Lê Văn Công in para powerlifting.
Toyota said each athlete will be paired with a Dual Hero Project, a Toyota-supported community initiative linked to causes important to the athletes. In the Philippines, Gawilan has led coastal cleanup and mangrove restoration efforts, while Yulo has worked with Toyota on the Start Your Impossible Gymnastics Camp for young athletes.
Toyota Motor Asia Vice President Preston Tan said the athletes reflect the company’s Move Your World platform as they compete and work with communities that shaped their journeys.
