The BYD eMAX7 gets a PHEV version in Indonesia called the M6 DM

The BYD eMAX7 came to the Philippines at a time when electrified options for family haulers were virtually non-existent. The three-row MPV not only gave Filipinos the option to go all-electric without sacrificing seating capacity, the eMAX7 is also very well equipped. Both the Standard and Superior Captain variants got six airbags, passive and active safety features as standard, full leather upholstery, and modern tech features. 

In terms of range, the entry-level version can travel up to 420 km, while the top-of-the-line variant can do up to 530 km. As for power, the eMAX7 here produces 160 hp and 201 hp, respectively.

Over in Indonesia, MPVs over there are in demand and the folks in BYD Indonesia have cooked up a new version of the eMAX7 to cut a slice into the hybrid market. Meet the M6 DM, and if you’re wondering about the name difference, that’s because the eMAX7 is called the M6 EV over there, everything else aside is the same.

On the outside, the M6 DM isn't a carbon copy of the standard electric M6. The presence of an internal combustion engine naturally calls for some reworking up front, so BYD fitted it with a revised grille that allows airflow into the engine bay. To help buyers tell the two apart at a glance, the DM variant also wears black body cladding around the lower sections and rides on its own set of two-tone alloys. Small touches, but enough to give it a distinct character.

Under the hood sits a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder, likely the same from the Sealion 5's setup. It puts out 98 hp and 126 Nm, though its main job isn't really to drive the wheels directly. Instead, it functions primarily as an onboard generator, feeding the battery and supporting the electric motor through a dedicated hybrid transmission. That electric motor handles most of the driving work, producing 160 hp and 310 Nm of torque. Buyers get to choose between two battery sizes: an 18.3 kWh pack that delivers up to 110 km of claimed EV-only range, or a smaller 7.4 kWh unit that covers around 40 km before the engine kicks in. When both the tank and battery are topped up, BYD claims the M6 DM can cover more than 1,000 km on a single trip.

The interior of the M6 DM will feel familiar to anyone who's ever been in an eMAX7. Second-row passengers can opt for captain's chairs on higher trims, and leather upholstery and a panoramic roof come with the better-specced variants. The infotainment setup consists of a 12.8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, paired with a digital instrument cluster. Rather than a traditional gear selector on the center console, BYD went with an electronic column-mounted shifter, which frees up space down below for a wireless charging pad and more usable storage.

The M6 DM is already on sale in Indonesia and is being locally assembled at BYD's new Subang plant in West Java. With production now up and running in Indonesia, could BYD bring the M6 DM to the Philippines as well?