Daily Tribune
TEAM members from BYD Cars Philippines, ACMobility, and Sunrise Events pose with the official IRONMAN 70.3 Davao signage during the partnership announcement at BYD Manila Bay. Shown are (from left): Bob Palanca, managing director, BYD Cars Philippines; Adam Hu, country head, BYD Philippines; Jaime Alfonso Zobel de Ayala, CEO, ACMobility; Dino Obias, chief marketing officer, ACMobility, and Fred Uytengsu and Princess Galura of Sunrise Events are joined by the The BYD Triathlon Teams as represented by Jens Jacobsen (Bike), Jas Alkhadi (Swim), and Jennifer Uy (Run), and the BYD Celebrity Triathlon Team, Nico Bolzico (Run), Alden Richards (Bike) and Wil Dasovich (Swim) alongside their coach, Al Gonzalez.
Photograph courtesy of BYD
BYD Cars Philippines has signed on as a partner for the upcoming IRONMAN 70.3 Davao. The partnership links the electric vehicle brand with one of the country’s toughest endurance races.
It was announced during a signing event at BYD Manila Bay on 29 January. Executives from BYD Cars Philippines, ACMobility, and Sunrise Events attended the ceremony, along with athletes who will represent the brand in the race.
Sunrise Events organizes the IRONMAN 70.3 Davao, which is set to bring local and international triathletes to Mindanao. The race covers a 1.9-kilometer swim, a 90-kilometer bike ride, and a 21.1-kilometer run.
BYD introduced two triathlon teams during the event. The BYD Celebrity Triathlon Team includes Nico Bolzico for the run leg, Alden Richards on the bike, and Wil Dasovich in the swim.
A second lineup, the BYD Triathlon Team, is made up of Olympian Jasmine Alkhaldi for swimming, Jens Jacobsen for cycling, and Jennifer Uy for running.
Richards said the collaboration highlights how sustainability and performance can exist in the same space.
He added that the goal is to inspire people by showing that technology can support both sport and everyday mobility.
BYD Cars Philippines managing director Bob Palanca said the event gives the brand a chance to connect directly with the triathlon community.
He said the company wants to show how its technology supports long-distance performance, whether on the road or in competition.
Athletes involved in the program also drew parallels between racing and electric mobility. Dasovich compared managing energy during a long race to managing range in a vehicle.
As part of the partnership, BYD plans to roll out a Tech Tour tied to the IRONMAN event.
One of the highlights will be a specially marked BYD Shark 6 DMO, which will be displayed for athletes and spectators during race activities in Davao.
Bolzico said hosting international endurance events helps raise the country’s profile while promoting environmental responsibility.
He said events like IRONMAN show that the Philippines can stage world-class competitions without losing sight of sustainability.
ACMobility chief executive Jaime Alfonso Zobel de Ayala said the partnership also supports efforts to expand electric mobility outside Luzon.
According to Zobel de Ayala, linking BYD vehicles with the company’s growing charging network helps make electric transport more practical for communities in Mindanao, especially during large-scale events like IRONMAN 70.3 Davao.
