Manila, Philippines (30 August 2013) – While the Philippines has traditionally been among the lowest in vehicle sales in Asia, observers now believe the Philippine auto market is on a bull run.
Records from the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) showed that for the first half of 2013, a total of 144,198 vehicles were sold. While its not-so-friendly sister industry association, Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors (AVID) records a first half year to date vehicle sales of over 55,000 units.
CAMPI, whose members have vehicle manufacturing and/or assembly plants in the country released the following sales performance figures for the first half of 2013:
- Total Passenger Car Sales 28,035
- Total Commercial Vehicle Sales (Cat I, III and IV) 59,191
- Total Light Commercial Vehicles Sales (Cat II) 36,991
- Asian Utility Vehicle Sales 19,981
Based on CAMPI’s Total Vehicle Sales, Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation, garnered 39.8%, followed by Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation garnering 24.4% and a far third, Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. cornering 8.41%.
AVID, whose members import and distribute completely build units (CBU) places Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. as its top seller, registering a first half YTD vehicle sales of 10,992 units.
Both CAMPI and AVID believe that the best is yet to be seen in the second half of the year as most buyers are still waiting for the latest models that its newest members, Eurobrand Distributors, Inc which sells Peugeot brand, and Berjaya Auto Philippines, Inc. the newest caretaker of Mazda Brand, will promote and sell.
The mushrooming of new franchised car dealership all over the country is noticeable. New rows of Car dealerships are developing in Calamba, Laguna, Cebu, Davao and Cagayan de Oro. This favorable development in vehicle sales though creates a big challenge to the already challenged traffic management system that this heavily populated country has.