Pioneer Trucks Takes Over Maxus Distribution, Debuts Electric Commercial Vehicles – CleanTechnica

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Pioneer Trucks Philippines announced at the 13th Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit (PEVS) that it has become the exclusive distributor of Maxus commercial trucks in the country, taking over a brand that the Ayala Group abandoned just three months earlier.

Maxus first entered the Philippines in 2019 through AC Industrials, the industrial technology arm of Ayala Corporation. That partnership ended in August 2025, and, notably, Ayala never brought in Maxus’s electric vehicle lineup despite the brand having offered electric vans since 2016.

Pioneer Trucks, which already distributes DAF Trucks in the Philippines, used the summit to introduce the all-electric Maxus commercial vehicles for the first time in the local market. Benedict Go, President and CEO of Pioneer Trucks, explained the rationale behind adding the brand to their portfolio.

“We’ve always been in that space because the DAF trucks have the lowest emission possible for diesel trucks,” Go said. “It is just natural for us to go into the EV space because the opportunities are very ripe now. Other EV brands have trucks but only we have the expertise in the logistics field because we have the whole ecosystem in place and ready to be deployed.”

The company displayed two electric Maxus models at the event. The ES80 6-Wheeler can carry up to 2.5 tons with a range of 302 kilometers on half load, powered by a 53.58 kilowatt-hour CATL battery. A 4-wheel version of the ES80 is also available for lighter urban deliveries.

The larger T1 medium-duty truck handles four-ton payloads and achieves up to 510 kilometers of range on half load, using either 100 or 120 kilowatt-hour battery packs. The T1 can be configured as a drop-side, aluminum van or wing van.

Pioneer Trucks said it plans to add the heavier Maxus EH300, rated for 8.5 tons with a 450-kilometer range, though no timeline was given. The company also confirmed it will eventually offer diesel-powered Maxus trucks alongside the electric models.

The addition of Maxus gives Pioneer Trucks vehicles spanning light commercial to heavy-duty segments. Maxus, owned by Chinese automaker SAIC Motor, covers the light and medium categories, while DAF handles premium heavy-duty applications, including long-haul operations with models like the XD and XF Electric.

The dual offering means Pioneer Trucks can sell both electric and diesel options as Philippine fleet operators weigh the costs and infrastructure challenges of electrification against emissions requirements and fuel costs.

Industry analysts attending the summit noted that Pioneer Trucks’ strategy of maintaining both electric and diesel options reflects the practical realities facing Philippine businesses. The approach acknowledges that while interest in electric commercial vehicles continues to grow, many fleet operators require transitional pathways that allow them to adopt new technology at a pace compatible with their operational and financial circumstances.

Lech Quiambao, Head of Engineering at logistics expert Nonpareil International Freight and Cargo Services, said their interest in decarbonization has found an answer in the Maxus booth. Speaking to CleanTechnica, Quiambao noted that they are planning to move away from diesel trucks in five years and are looking at maximizing decarbonization in all their fleet operations.