Chinese carmaker iCaur is getting closer to its Philippine debut, and the brand is starting to put the pieces of its local operation together with the appointment of four founding dealer groups.
The new-energy vehicle company has signed MG Gateway Group, Britannica United, Laus Auto Group, and DC Automotive as its initial retail partners. Together, the four groups are expected to establish iCaur’s presence across key areas of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao as the brand prepares to officially enter the market in October 2026.
The move is significant as iCaur will not simply rely on existing Omoda & Jaecoo facilities despite being distributed locally under Omoda & Jaecoo Philippines, which is part of the Chery Group. Instead, the brand says its dealers will operate dedicated sales and after-sales facilities designed around its new-energy vehicle lineup.
Each dealer group also brings an established geographic footprint to the table. MG Gateway Group is set to support iCaur’s expansion into metropolitan areas in the Visayas and Southern Luzon, while Laus Auto Group will cover strategic locations in North and Central Luzon. Britannica United and DC Automotive will round out the network with outlets in other key urban centers.
For iCaur, getting the dealer network in place before the vehicles arrive is more than a box-ticking exercise. A new automotive brand needs somewhere for potential customers to see the products, take test drives, place orders, and eventually have their vehicles serviced. The availability of parts and after-sales support will also be particularly important for a brand entering the market with electrified vehicles.
The timing also lines up with iCaur’s planned introduction of its first two Philippine models, the V23 and V27.
The V23 is an all-electric SUV with a deliberately boxy, retro-inspired design. The larger V27 takes a different approach, using a range-extender setup in which a turbocharged gasoline engine serves as a generator while electric motors provide propulsion. Philippine-market information points to multiple variants for both models, although final specifications and equipment are expected to be confirmed closer to the official launch.
With its initial dealer partners confirmed and signed in, iCaur has moved beyond simply announcing its Philippine arrival. It is building the retail and service structure needed to support that arrival.
The next major piece of the puzzle will be the official launch itself, where iCaur should finally reveal the Philippine-market specifications, pricing, variant structure, and availability of the V23 and V27.
For a market already seeing more electrified SUVs arrive, October could provide a clearer picture of where iCaur intends to fit into the increasingly crowded Philippine automotive landscape.
Autocar’s Take
iCaur’s Philippine arrival is becoming much more tangible with four dealer groups already signed ahead of its October debut. For me, that is more significant than another overseas brand simply announcing that it is coming here. Building the dealer and after-sales network early gives potential buyers a clearer idea that iCaur is preparing for a proper market entry, not just a short-term product launch.
The V23 and V27 also give the brand two distinctly different approaches to electrification. Now, the bigger questions are pricing, specifications, charging support, and how extensive the initial dealer network will actually be once the brand and its vehicles officially arrive.
