Motor vehicle sales grew by a modest 2 percent in the first half of the year, marked by a “notable shift in buyer preference” in the passenger cars segment, according to an industry report released on Monday.
The joint report from the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) and the Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) stated that vehicle salesreached 230,912 units in the first half of 2025, up from 226,279 units in the same period of 2024.
The report indicated that passenger car sales slowed down, but commercial vehicle sales took up the slack.
Passenger car sales declined by 23.8 percent, dropping to 45,647 units from January to June 2025 compared to 59,875 units in the same months last year. This segment accounted for 26.31 percent of total sales.
However, the bigger segment of commercial vehicles remained strong, with sales increasing by 11 percent to 185,265 units over the six months, up from 166,404 units in the same period last year. This segment represented 73.54 percent of total sales.
As the industry enters the second half of the year, manufacturers and dealers remain focused on enhancing the customer experience, introducing updated vehicle lineups, and supporting market recovery across all segments, including passenger cars, according to CAMPI President Rommel Gutierrez.
Gutierrez noted that CAMPI has observed market shifts and evolving buyer preferences in the passenger car segment.
“These factors present opportunities for innovation and recovery in this category,” he said.
In June alone, total sales reached 40,483 units—a 1.8 percent increase from 39,775 units in May 2025, and a 3.6 percent rise from 39,088 units in June 2024.
The report showed that electric vehicle (EV) sales totaled 13,490 units in the first semester of the year, representing 5.8 percent of total vehicle sales.
Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. led the EV segment, selling 9,039 HEVs and 44 BEVs. Tesla Motors Philippines followed, with 1,477 BEV units sold.
According to CAMPI/TMA data, Toyota remained the overall market leader, with a 48.19 percent share from 111,276 units sold. Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. came next with 44,021 units, representing a 19.06 percent share.
Rounding out the top five were Nissan Philippines Inc. with 11,859 units (5.14 percent share), Ford Motor Company Philippines Inc. with 10,953 units (4.74 percent), and Suzuki Philippines Inc. with 10,732 units (4.65 percent).
Industry executives say the Philippines remains on track to reach its target of surpassing 500,000 vehicle units sold for the first time this year.
“This will put the country on the same level as Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia with markets exceeding the half-million mark,” GT Capital Auto and Mobility Holdings Chairman Vicente Socco said in his speech at the Auto Parts and Vehicles Expo 2025 last Friday.
