Auto sales up in July despite typhoon-induced supply disruptions

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MANILA, Philippines–Domestic sales of mass-market automotive firms rose 32 percent year-on-year in July to reach another record monthly volume of 20,730 units.

According to a joint report from the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (Campi) and the Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA), last month’s surge was mainly driven by the passenger car segment.

“We are grateful for the market’s continued patronage of the automotive industry despite the recent onslaught of Typhoon ‘Glenda’ [which caused] interruptions in production and transport of supply,” Campi president Rommel Gutierrez said in a statement.

“While we were expecting lower results due to [that] typhoon, we still breached the high sales of last [June],” Gutierrez added.

Another contributing factor, according to Campi and TMA, is their aggressive product launches and extensive marketing support to meet the customer demand.

As for this August, Gutierrez said the two groups expect “lower to stable sales attributed to lower seasonality for the month.”

In July, both the passenger car and commercial vehicle segments revved up by double digits at 65 percent and 17 percent, respectively.

The subcategories of Asian utility vehicles grew by 10 percent, light commercial vehicles by 21 percent, and trucks and buses by 24 percent.

However, the subcategory of light trucks eased by 1.5 percent.

Overall , Campi and TMA sold 8,339 cars and 12,391 utility vehicles and trucks last month.

In the seven months to July, both groups racked up a combined volume of 129,687 units – 26 percent higher than in the same period of 2013.

Sales of passenger cars ballooned by 48 percent to 48,948 units while those of commercial vehicles expanded by 16 percent to 80,739 units.

As of July, Toyota Motors Philippines led the local market with a 45.2 percent share. It sold 58,635 units, increasing by 43 percent in volume.

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. placed second with 22.2 percent of the market, selling 28,842 units or an increase of 16 percent.

Ford Motor Philippines came third 8 percent of the market as sales reached 10,587 units or 40.50 percent higher.