It’s only been a couple of weeks since BYD launched the Sealion 5 as its smaller, more affordable plug-in hybrid crossover for the Philippine market, but now it looks like the brand’s competitor to the likes of the Toyota Alphard and GAC M8 is coming soon.

The list of recognized plug-in hybrids in the country has recently been updated, and we found an MPV called the BYD eMAX 9, which looks a lot like the BYD Xia in the Chinese market. It's not the first time we've seen it on the list, as there have been plenty of entries of the MPV, but called the Denza D9.

So what gives, then? Well, this could be somewhat of an indicator that BYD Cars PH distributor ACMobility is looking to bring the model to the market while the BYD (the parent company) is preparing to launch the Denza brand in the country by around Q4 this year. Think of the eMAX 9 as the Alphard, while the Denza D9 is the Lexus LM for a clearer picture.

But going back, the eMAX 9 name somehow aligns and makes sense for the model to be identified as the bigger MPV in the BYD Cars PH lineup. Unlike the eMAX 7, which is fully electric, the eMAX 9 comes as a plug-in hybrid.

Based on the list, the single motor setup gives it 272 PS and 315 Nm of torque with two battery options – one is a 20.4 kWh unit in the Advanced variant, then the other has 36.6 kWh in the Premium, which is expected to give a longer all-electric range. The eMAX 9 is equipped with a Type 2 AC Charging port and CCS DC Charging Port for rapid recharging purposes.

Given the pricing strategy of BYD in the Philippine market, the eMAX 9 could be another potential MPV that could shake up the competition. We wouldn’t be surprised if a model launch happens within the next few months.