• Homepage
  • News
  • BYD PH highlights 4th year birthday bash with S1 subcompact crossover, electric Forklift launch

BYD PH highlights 4th year birthday bash with S1 subcompact crossover, electric Forklift launch

By Randy
.
October 2, 2017

Solar Transport Automotive Resources Corporation (STAR Corp.), the official distributor of BYD vehicles in the Philippines, recently celebrated its 4th year anniversary. In line with this, the Chinese carmaker ushered 2 new models in its line up, the BYD S1 subcompact crossover and the BYD Forklift.

Prior to taking the wraps off the aforementioned new models, STAR Corp.’s Managing Director Mark Andrew Tieng delivered the first exciting news of the day. As its stands, BYD is now the leading supplier of electric vehicles in the world, with a remarkable 13.2% market share. Backed by renowned American business tycoon Warren Buffet, BYD is now ahead of Tesla in the global electric vehicle business race by 3.3%.

Tieng added that STAR Corp. also beefed up its after-sales service by introducing the 5-year preventive maintenance service (PMS) program. In brief, the BYD 5-year PMS program is a free after-sales perk for those BYD owners who bought a brand new car from the Chinese brand from July 29, 2017 onwards. Adding to this perk is the free 5-year oil change service for those who’ll be buying the S1 and the S7 SUV.

BYD S1

And speaking of the S1, BYD Philippines’ 4th birthday bash was highlighted with the launch of its entry in the subcompact crossover class; the S1 (known elsewhere around the world as the BYD Yuan). Based on its target market, the S1 is pegged to directly go up against the Ford EcoSport and the Chevrolet Trax. It’s got this edgy looks with well-rounded curves and a stylish tire cover at the back to complete the look, a design theme which according to BYD represents a “rebellious” aura.

Inside the 5-seater subcompact crossover is a helping of quality leather on the seats. But the main attraction within is its 8-inch touch screen head unit. What’s special about this infotainment system is that it features Android device support so people can continue using apps like Spotify for entertainment or Waze for spot-on navigation.

For safety, the S1 boasts a 5-star China New Car Assessment Program (C-NCAP) safety rating. That’s because it comes with such safety features as Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Electrical Park Brake (EPB), collapsible steering column, Hydraulic Power Steering (HPS), Brake Override System (BOS), and Hill Descent Control, among others.

Under the hood, the BYD S1 runs with a 1.5L inline 4-cylinder mill that’s meshed to a 6-speed automatic transmission. It’s able to produce 150 hp and 240 Nm of torque.

Of note, STAR Corp. puts the BYD S1’s price point at P999,000  and this selling price is effective until the end of this year.

BYD Forklift

Launched within minutes after the introduction of the S1 is the brand’s entry in the industrial and logistics market, the BYD Forklift. What’s unique about this is that it’s powered entirely by the brand’s signature Lithium-Ion Phosphate (Fe) battery, the only forklift model of its kind in the country that’s purely electric. This means that this a 100% clean and green lifting machine.

Aside from its electric vehicle feature, the BYD Forklift also comes with an automatic speed regulator for safer cornering even when fully-loaded, forward tilting and overload protection, braking assist, and a battery management system. These goodies all contribute to the International Forklift Truck of the Year (IFOY) Award it received in 2016.

Happy 4th birthday, STAR Corp!

Related Posts

Pause

About the Author

Randolph de Leon
Randy is a person with disability (PWD), a partially-blinded person with only his left eye functioning. Since childhood, the automobile has always been his passion, and is able to express it through photography and most recently, through writing as well. Outside the motoring beat, Randy spends time manning the media aspect of his business which he co-founded with his sister/college classmate. It's called Dragonlight Wellness and Solutions, a multi-business venture centering on improving peoples' lives through earning.