Vehicles sales up 16%; growth seen to continue this year

The natural calamities that hit the country in the second half of 2013 had tempered the growth in vehicle sales to a total of 181,283 units last year.

Data from the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (Campi) and the Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) showed that while the 2013 sales volume reflected a 16-percent growth compared to the 2012 sales of 156,649 units, it fell short of the industry’s sales target of 210,000 units.

But Campi, in a statement issued Tuesday, was quick to claim that if the sales of non-Campi and non-TMA members were to be included in the count, the total industry sales exceeded the 210,000-unit target. No other data to back up this claim was provided.

Campi said that most of its member companies enjoyed sales increases ranging from 4 percent to 60 percent.

However, it said some players in the luxury segment posted decline in sales during the last two months of the year. It is the segment that caters to the higher end of the market, “including the business sector which was at the forefront of rehabilitation efforts in areas hit by major calamities—the 7.2-magnitude in Bohol in October and Supertyphoon “Yolanda” in the Visayas in November.

Based on Campi and TMA data, the trucks and buses segment posted the biggest growth of 39 percent to 2,084 units in 2013, followed by the light trucks segment, which grew by 28 percent to 2,986 units.

Overall sales in the passenger car segment rose by 26 percent to 61,083 units in 2013, while the light commercial vehicle (LCV) segment grew by 16.1 percent to 74,398 units. Sales of the commercial vehicle segment, which accounted for the bulk of the total, grew by 11 percent to 120,200 units, while AUV sales posted a modest growth of 1.2 percent to 40,732 units as of the end of 2013.

Toyota Motor Philippines continued to dominate the local market with a share of 41.46 percent and sales of 75,161 units, followed by Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. with a 23.82-percent market share.

In the third and fourth spots were Honda Cars Philippines and Ford Motor Co. Philippines, with market shares of 7.37 percent and 7.33 percent, respectively.

Isuzu Philippines Corp. followed with a 6.51 percent share.

For 2014, the local automotive sector remains bullish as it targets overall sales to reach 230,000 units. The optimistic outlook was based on expectations that the continued improvement in the economy would result in more investments and increased consumer confidence. The industry believes that the scheduled introduction of new vehicle models and promotion packages would further boost sales.

In the meantime, Campi president Rommel Gutierrez announced the holding of the 5th Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS) on Sept. 18 to 21.

“As the biggest and most awaited motor show in the country, PIMS has been widely recognized as the best venue for introducing new products and this year’s PIMS should be another exciting project to look forward to,” Gutierrez said.

“The 210,000 (estimate for 2013) included (sales of) Avid (Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors) and other players that are not members of any associations. Avid already published its figures. Others may not publish it. But total figures would add up to more than 210,000 units,” Campi president Rommel Gutierrez said in a text message on Tuesday.