A Changan-backed REEV brand pairs its Philippine market entry with a fully operational service facility, targeting the aftersales gap that has slowed EV adoption.
The Bottom Line
- Deepal Philippines showroom is now open in Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong, with four display vehicles, 10 service bays, and 1,562 sqm of total floor space a facility built for ownership, not just sales.
- Twelve units were handed over at the opening event: 10 S05 REEVs and two G318 REEVs, with 56 more units queued for release. That pipeline traces directly back to reservations made at MIAS 2026 in April.
- The S05 REEV runs a 27.28 kWh CATL battery paired with a 1.5-liter range extender, producing 215 hp and a combined range of 1,234 km, which removes the infrastructure dependency that makes pure BEV ownership difficult outside Metro Manila.
- Deepal is the premium EV-exclusive arm of Changan Automobile, one of China’s largest state-linked automakers. Autohub Group, its Philippine distributor, already carries Zeekr, Geely, GAC, GWM, and JAC, making Deepal the latest addition to one of the country’s most active multi-brand EV portfolios.
- More showrooms are planned. How fast Autohub expands the Deepal network will determine whether this opening is a signal or a ceiling.
The Philippine market for electrified vehicles has accumulated a familiar pattern over the past three years. Brands arrive at motor shows, generate reservations, then spend months managing the gap between order intake and actual ownership. That gap — partly logistics, partly infrastructure anxiety, partly aftersales uncertainty, has been the recurring friction point for buyers considering a shift away from conventional powertrains. The brands that have moved units consistently are the ones that treated delivery infrastructure as a product, not an afterthought.
Deepal Philippines, distributed exclusively by Autohub Group, opened its first showroom on May 21 at Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong. The facility spans approximately 1,562 square meters and features four display vehicles and 10 service bays, designed to provide a complete ownership experience through integrated sales and aftersales support. The opening was not a soft launch. At the event, Autohub handed over 12 units to the first 12 Deepal vehicle owners in the country, consisting of 10 S05 and two G318 range-extended electric vehicles.
That combination, physical service infrastructure present at the same moment as first deliveries — is deliberate positioning. It answers the question buyers in this segment ask before signing: if something goes wrong, where do I go?
What the Deepal Philippines Showroom Is Actually Selling
Deepal is the premium arm of China Changan Automobile Group Corporation Limited, with its local strategy built around REEV technology as a viable alternative for buyers not ready to commit fully to all-electric ownership. The argument is structurally sound for the Philippine context. Public fast-charging infrastructure outside Metro Manila remains thin. Fuel costs have risen consistently. A vehicle that can run on battery within the city and fall back on a petrol range extender for longer distances removes the two largest objections simultaneously.
The S05 REEV is the volume play. It carries a 27.28 kWh battery paired with a 1.5-liter engine sending power to an electric motor producing 215 hp and 320 Nm of torque. Pure electric range sits at 170 kilometers, with a combined range of 1,234 kilometers. The S05 is rear-wheel drive, which Deepal positions as a differentiator against front-wheel-drive crossovers in the same price band. It competes directly against the BYD Sealion 6 DM-i and the Jetour T1 Lightning i-DM, both of which have been building Philippine order books since 2025.
The G318 REEV occupies different territory. It targets buyers who want off-road capability with electrified range, a combination with limited direct competition locally. Two units were in the first delivery batch, which puts initial demand for that model in perspective: the S05 is where the volume sits.
The Aftersales Calculation
The 10 service bays at Deepal Shaw are worth examining beyond the headline number. For context, a typical mid-tier dealership in the Philippines operates six to eight bays. Opening at 10 signals that Autohub is not sizing for initial registration volume — it is sizing for a growing ownership base. The bays are manned by trained service professionals equipped with EV-focused diagnostic tools. That tooling investment matters specifically because REEV and BEV platforms require different diagnostic infrastructure than conventional ICE vehicles, and technician training for these systems takes time to build at scale.
The aftersales gap has visibly affected other Chinese EV entrants in the Philippines. Brands that arrived with strong launch numbers have faced service bottlenecks as their registration base grew faster than their network. Deepal is entering with the service layer already in place, at least for the flagship site.
Autohub’s Deepening EV Bet
Autohub Group’s current portfolio spans brands including MINI, Lotus, Zeekr, Shelby, Triumph, Vespa, Ford, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Suzuki, Kia, Mazda, MG, Geely, GAC, JAC, JMC, and GWM. Adding Deepal gives the group its second Changan-linked brand alongside the existing network, and its third dedicated EV marque alongside Zeekr and the electrified lines within brands like GAC and Geely.
The pattern is worth reading as a strategic signal rather than just a portfolio expansion. Autohub has been systematically positioning itself as the primary gateway for Chinese electrified vehicles in the Philippine market. Each brand addition deepens that position and increases its leverage with Chinese principals looking for a credible local distribution partner. Deepal, as Changan’s EV-exclusive premium arm, fits that pattern precisely.
At the opening, Autohub Group noted that the 56 units queued for release in the days following the event reflect growing demand for REEV models, with most reservations tracing back to the MIAS 2026 launch in April. A six-week conversion window from motor show reservation to delivery is faster than most new entrants manage in this market. Whether that pace holds as the order book deepens will depend on how quickly Deepal can move units through its supply chain and how fast Autohub can stand up additional showrooms outside Mandaluyong.
What Comes Next for the Deepal Philippines Showroom Network
Deepal Philippines is in the process of building more showrooms throughout the country. No confirmed timelines or locations have been disclosed at the time of publication. The Shaw Boulevard site functions as the flagship and the benchmark — the standard against which subsequent sites will be measured.
The S07, a midsize REEV SUV previewed at MIAS 2026, is also on the Philippine roadmap for later this year. That model sits above the S05 in the lineup and would extend Deepal’s reach into a higher price point and a different buyer profile. How much of the current reservation momentum carries over to that launch will be the next indicator of where the brand actually sits in the Philippine market’s consideration set.
Deepal Shaw is located along Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City.
FAQ
What is the Deepal S05 REEV’s electric range in the Philippines?
The Deepal S05 REEV has a pure electric range of 170 kilometers and a combined range of 1,234 kilometers when the 1.5-liter range extender is factored in. The 27.28 kWh CATL battery supports DC fast charging from 30 to 80 percent in 20 minutes.
Who distributes Deepal in the Philippines?
Autohub Group is the exclusive distributor of Deepal in the Philippines. The Deepal Philippines showroom flagship is located along Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong City, with additional sites currently in development.
How does REEV technology differ from a standard hybrid?
In a range-extended electric vehicle, the petrol engine functions solely as a generator to recharge the battery. It does not drive the wheels directly. All propulsion comes from the electric motor, which means the driving character is closer to a pure EV than to a conventional hybrid.
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