When BYD Cars Philippines revealed the eMAX 7, the all-electric MPV offered quite a proposition to car buyers. With a starting price of PHP 1.548 million, those looking for a three-row zero-emissions MPV need not look far for such a vehicle. On a full charge, the entry-level version can travel up to 420 km, while the top-of-the-line variant can do up to 530 km.

All well and good, but with the market pivoting towards plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), BYD Cars Philippines might be missing out on the MPV segment. Well, BYD Indonesia has just launched the plug-in hybrid version of the compact MPV, and it's looking promising.

Say hello to the BYD M6 DM, and despite having a different name, it's essentially the PHEV version of the eMAX7 we get here in the Philippines. Built and produced for the Indonesian market, the M6 DM takes the Sealion 5's DM powertrain and applies it to the three-row MPV body of the eMAX7.

Beginning with its design, the M6 DM gets some subtle changes compared to the regular M6 EV. Since it has an engine under the hood, the M6 DM gets a different grille to allow air to enter the engine bay. The DM version also comes with black body cladding all around to further differentiate it from the EV model. Last but not least, the M6 DM gets its own set of two-tone alloy wheels.

At the heart of the M6 DM is a 1.5L naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine that's likely derived from the Sealion 5. It makes 100 PS with 126 Nm of torque and mostly serves as an onboard generator for the battery pack and to assist the electric motor via a dedicated hybrid transmission.

Speaking of electric motor, it has a single electric motor that puts out 163 PS with 310 Nm of torque and gets its power from two battery options: 18.3 kWh and a smaller 7.4 kWh lithium-iron phosphate (LFP). The former gives the M6 DM a claimed EV range of up to 110 km, while the latter gives the MPV a range of up to 40 km. With both the gasoline engine and battery on full, BYD says the M6 DM has a range of more than 1,000 km.

Inside, the M6 DM welcomes occupants into a comfy cabin that's available with captain seats on the second row (just like the eMAX7 here in PH). High-grade models come with leather seats, along with a panoramic glass roof to let more light into the cabin. For added comfort, all rows of seats come with aircon vents, including the third row.

The M6 DM also features a 12.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, along with a digital instrument panel. Don't expect to find a gear selector on the center console, as BYD gave the M6 DM a new electronic column shifter. However, the trade-off is that the M6 DM gets a new wireless charging pad, along with more space on the center console.

The BYD M6 DM is now on sale in Indonesia and is locally manufactured at the company's newly constructed Subang plant in West Java. With BYD now manufacturing vehicles in Indonesia, we're curious if they plan to offer the M6 DM to other countries in Southeast Asia like the Philippines.

Should the M6 DM make its way here, will BYD Cars Philippines rename it as the eMAX 7 DM-i?