Vehicle sales zoomed up to 37,604 units in January from 34,060 units in the same month last year, marking a 10.4 percent year-on-year increase, a joint vehicle manufacturers report said.
On a month-on-month basis, the total sales number dropped 10.6 percent from 42,044 units in December 2024, it said.
The joint report released by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (Campi) and the Truck Manufacturers Association pointed out the seasonality of sales and the favorable trend involving commercial vehicles.
Rommel Gutierrez, Campi president, attributed the month-on-month result to the seasonally high sales every December and the eventual correction at the start of the following year.
The report showed January sales were driven by the commercial vehicle segment, which grew 16.6 percent year-on-year, with 29,875 units sold, and accounting for 79 percent of the total.
From 31,919 in December 2024, sales of commercial vehicles fell 6 percent in January, the report said.
Sales of passenger cars declined 8.5 percent year-on-year, at 7,729 units from 8,446 units in January 2024.
The segment’s sales plummeted 23.66 percent from the December 2024 sales of 10,125 units.
Gutierrez said Campi is confident in setting the aspirational sales figure of 500,000-unit target for this year.
“Newly rolled-out models and the anticipated introduction of new ones are some of the factors that will contribute to achieving this target,” Gutierrez said, but declined to name these brands.
Toyota Motor Philippines remained the dominant market player in January, with sales of 18,078 units, or a market share of 48.07 percent.
While this number was an increase of 12.3 percent, compared with the 16,093 units in January 2024, it was a 10.78 percent decline from 20,263 units, dragging the overall sales, Campi documents showed.
The second top seller was Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp., with sales of 7,374 and a market share of 19.61 percent.
Third-placer Nissan Philippines sold 2,366 units, for a 6.29 percent market share.
