Vehicle sales continued their uptick for the third consecutive month in September, up 7.5 percent from August and pulling up sales to date by 2.4 percent.
Total sales as of September totaled 267,364 units from 261,161 units last year.
A joint report by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (Campi) and Truck Manufacturers Association showed September sales stood at 31,820 units from 29,599 units sold the previous month, and up 2.3 percent from 31,116 units sold in September 2018.
Rommel Gutierrez , president of Campi, said with the continuing demand for commercial and passenger vehicle sales propping up the industry, the group remains bullish the automotive sector will post continuous growth until the end of the year.
“Campi has expected this recovery coming into the last quarter of the year. September is traditionally the start of an upward trend in sales as the public begins to spend for the upcoming holiday season,” Gutierrez said.
Gutierrez said the sustained growth is a good indicator of the increasing and widening demand for vehicles.
“We are optimistic the industry is well-positioned and prepared to progressively get back on track towards strong positive growth in the coming months,” he added.
Commercial vehicle (CV) sales pushed year-to-date sales, and grew 4 percent to 187,047 units from 179,979 units last year and accounting for 70 percent of total sales.
Passenger car sales stood at 80,317 units, slightly lower than the 81,182 units sold a year ago.
Among the CV sub-segments, light commercial vehicles accounted for 80 percent with sales surging 15 percent to 150,436 units from 130,977 units in 2018.
Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. continued to lead all assemblers with 42 percent market share and sales of 114,117 units, a 4-percent increase from109,302 units last year.
At second was Mitsubishi Motor Philippines Corp. which sold 46,007 units, down 9 percent from 50,588 units in 2018.
Rounding up the top three is Nissan Philippines at 32,980 units, 34.6 percent higher than the 24,507 units a year ago.
