Jetour is having a moment. The brand just got named the top-selling plug-in hybrid marque among CAMPI members for the first half of 2026, riding on the T1 Lightning i-DM’s strong numbers. And instead of slowing down, it’s bringing in another 7-seater PHEV.
The Department of Energy has now recognized the Jetour S08 i-DM on its list of approved plug-in hybrids, a solid signal that a Philippine launch is coming within months. It’s part of how Jetour Auto Philippines is quietly building out one of the widest electrified lineups from a Chinese brand in the country.
A Quick Look at the Jetour S08 i-DM
The S08 i-DM is a seven-seat plug-in hybrid crossover that, in other markets, is sold under Chery’s Soueast sub-brand. Here in the Philippines, AutoIndustriya reports the model will carry the Jetour badge, not the Soueast name. It’s a larger, more family-focused sibling to the X70 Lightning i-DM and slots above the smaller Jetour models in the local range.
Under the skin it’s built on the same philosophy as the rest of the range: a small internal-combustion engine that mostly acts as a generator, feeding a battery that drives the electric motor. Think of it as an EV with a built-in safety net for long drives.
Specs at a Glance
| Spec | Jetour S08 i-DM |
|---|---|
| Body type | 7-seat crossover SUV |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 4,810 x 1,930 x 1,705 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,820 mm |
| Ground clearance | 160 mm (min) |
| Curb weight | Over 2,040 kg |
| Engine | 1.5L turbo (105 kW / 142 PS), range-extender duty |
| Electric motor | 150 kW (204 PS) |
| Battery | 18.4 kWh |
| EV range | 85 km (WLTC) |
| Total range | Up to 1,000 km (est., with 70L tank) |
| Wheels | 20-inch, 235/50R20 |
| Infotainment | 15.6-inch touchscreen + 10.25-inch digital cluster |
Figures sourced from the DOE recognition listing via AutoIndustriya and from the international model data reported by paultan. The combined output is contested across sources (AutoIndustriya lists a 105 kW engine + 150 kW motor; paultan reports a 360 PS combined figure) — I’m presenting the DOE-based component split and attributing the combined figure to paultan.
Powertrain and Range
According to the DOE listing coverage by AutoIndustriya, the S08 i-DM uses a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine making around 142 PS that primarily serves as a generator. That charges an 18.4 kWh battery, which then powers the electric motor good for 204 PS.
On battery power alone, Jetour claims up to 85 km on the WLTC cycle. That’s plenty for the average Metro Manila daily commute. With a full tank of fuel and a charged battery, the total range is expected to clear 1,000 km, which removes the range anxiety that still keeps some buyers away from full EVs.
International reports on the sibling Soueast S08 DM note DC fast charging can do a 30-to-80 percent recharge in around 18 minutes, and the car can supply up to 3.3 kW to external devices through vehicle-to-load. Those are handy figures for family road trips.
Features and Interior
Where the S08 i-DM aims to impress is inside. In other markets the 7-seater comes with a 15.6-inch touchscreen, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 50-watt wireless charging pad, a panoramic sunroof, and power-adjustable front seats with heating and cooling. Second-row passengers get folding table trays, and both the second and third rows fold flat to free up room for bulkier loads.
Safety kit is generous too: lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, blind spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert, and a driver fatigue alert round out the list, along with full airbag coverage and ISOFIX anchors in the second row.
How Much Could It Cost?
Jetour has not announced Philippine pricing or launch timing for the S08 i-DM yet — the DOE recognition is the clearest hint that a debut is close. For now, it’s a projection.
| Model | PHP | USD | INR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jetour S08 i-DM (est.) | P2,100,000 – P2,400,000 | ~$33,670 – $38,480 | ~Rs 32.2 – 36.8 lakh |
| Jetour X70 Lightning i-DM (on sale) | P1,498,000 | ~$24,020 | ~Rs 22.9 lakh |
| GAC GN8 PHEV Executive | P3,338,000 | ~$53,520 | ~Rs 51.1 lakh |
Exchange rates: ~62.37 PHP/USD, ~95.58 INR/USD (Aug 31, 2026). S08 estimate anchored on the X70 Lightning i-DM’s P1.498M below it and the GAC GN8 PHEV’s P3.338M above it. This is an estimate, not an official price.
That positioning would make it one of the more accessible seven-seat plug-in hybrids in the country, undercutting the GAC GN8 PHEV Executive by a wide margin while sitting comfortably above the X70 Lightning. For families that want the versatility of a third row without the fuel bills of a big diesel SUV, that’s an attractive spot.
How It Fits Filipino Driving Conditions
City Driving
This is the S08 i-DM’s home turf. With up to 85 km of EV-only range, an EDSA-to-BGC-and-back commute would run largely on battery, which means near-silent running and noticeably lower running costs than the diesel seven-seaters most families default to. The instant torque from the electric motor also helps with the stop-and-go rhythm of Metro Manila traffic and quick lane changes on C5.
Parking could be a consideration. It’s a big crossover at 4.81 meters long, so tight mall parking in Makati or BGC demands a bit more care than a compact hatch. The 360-degree camera that comes in other markets should help close that gap.
Long-Distance Travel
This is where the range-extender setup shines. For a Manila-to-Baguio run at roughly 250 km, you’d do it on a mix of battery and generator power without hunting for a charging station. The 1,000-km estimated total range means even longer hauls — say Manila to Naga or up through the North Luzon Expressway — are comfortably within reach with just fuel stops.
If you do want to charge on the road, fast charging to 80 percent in under 20 minutes (per international data) makes a coffee-stop top-up genuinely practical. That’s a big plus versus smaller-range PHEVs.
Flooded Situations
The S08 i-DM has a minimum ground clearance of 160 mm, which puts it in the cautious middle of the pack. It’s not a lifted pickup or an off-road SUV, so wading through deep floods should be avoided. That said, an EV’s sealed battery and motor do away with the hydrolock risk that kills traditional engines when water gets in — a real advantage on our flood-prone streets, as long as the water stays below the underbody.
High Temperatures
Battery chemistries matter in 36-to-38 degree Philippine heat. International data on the sibling model points to LFP-style lithium iron phosphate cells, which are more thermally stable and tolerate heat better than some nickel-manganese chemistries. LFP packs also handle warm climates with less long-term degradation — a meaningful consideration for a family car that’ll sit in the sun for years.
That same thermal stability argument is why so many of the newer Chinese hybrid and electric models coming in are leaning on LFP. It’s a sensible choice for our climate, and it’s something I’ve touched on before when looking at how battery tech is evolving.
Competition to Watch
Jetour isn’t just rolling out another model for the sake of it. The brand’s PHEV lineup — the T1 Lightning i-DM, T2, X70, Dashing, and G700 — has been selling strongly, and the BYD Mako PHEV and MG G50 PHEV are heating up the mid-market electrified crossover and MPV segments.
Upmarket, the S08 i-DM will face the GAC GN8 PHEV. Jeep-side, JAECOO is pushing its J5 EV at P1.399M to grab attention in the compact electric crossover space, which shows how crowded this market has gotten.
With the S08 i-DM DOE-listed, the question isn’t whether Jetour will launch it — it’s how quickly it can get it to dealers and what price wins the seven-seat PHEV race. Given how aggressively Jetour has been pricing its hybrids lately, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a launch figure that turns a few heads this year.
If you’re weighing a plug-in hybrid for the family but don’t want to spend GAC GN8 money, the Jetour G700 and the upcoming F700 pickup already show where the brand’s price-to-specs strategy is heading. The S08 i-DM looks set to carry that same playbook into the family crossover class.