The Kicks e-POWER is Nissan Philippines’ entry into the local electrified vehicle market. What sets it apart isn’t just its series-hybrid setup, but the way regulators handled its classification a few years ago. Even though it uses a gasoline engine as a generator, the Department of Energy (DOE) initially classified the Kicks as a Battery Electric Vehicle, which meant it qualified for EV-only incentives.
That special status led to real savings for buyers. The Kicks got a 30 percent cut on LTO registration fees and enjoyed excise tax breaks usually meant for full battery EVs. Thanks to those perks, Nissan was able to drop prices in 2024, making the Kicks one of the most affordable electrified crossovers you could buy.
But that advantage has just been pulled back.
In a letter sent to Nissan Kicks e-POWER Club of the Philippines founder Derrick Uy, Nissan Philippines has confirmed that the Kicks e-POWER is now officially a Hybrid Electric Vehicle under the latest DOE rules. The change comes from new guidelines released in September last year, which updated the definition of hybrids and created a separate category for Series HEVs.
Because of this, the Kicks loses its BEV-level perks. Registration discounts drop from 30 percent to 15 percent, both for new units and renewals. Nissan says the updated DOE list will reach government agencies by early January 2026, which is when the new rules kick in.
Nissan also says its customer service and dealers are getting ready to answer questions about the change.
On the technical side, this move puts the Kicks in line with how most series hybrids are classified. The e-POWER system always uses a gasoline engine to generate electricity, even if only the electric motor drives the wheels. Before, Nissan could make a case under the old EVIDA law, but the new rules leave little room for debate.
What’s still up in the air is whether losing BEV incentives will push prices up. We’ve reached out to Nissan Philippines to confirm if a price hike is coming or when it might happen. Here’s the statement shared to Autocar Philippines:
“The Suggested Retail Price (SRP) of Nissan Kicks e-Power remains the same. However, price and specification may change without prior notice depending on the market condition.”
As of this writing, the Nissan Kicks e-POWER continues to carry the same pricing introduced during its BEV-classified period:
* e-POWER EL – P1,179,000
* e-POWER VE – P1,279,000
* e-POWER VL – P1,479,000
How long those prices stick around will depend on how Nissan handles this regulatory shake-up.
