Car sales post 13% growth in 2000

The automotive industry managed to weather last year’s economic downturn as sales zoomed nearly 13 percent to 83,949 units from 74,414 units in 1999 on the back of strong sales performance in the early part of the year.

Based on a report culled from the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI), Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. (TMP) retained the overall number one rank even though Honda Cars Phils. Inc. was the biggest seller in terms of passenger cars.

According to Raymond Rodriquez, TMP’s assistant vice president for vehicle sales, Toyota’s total sales of 24,006 units last year was primarily led by the sales of its popular Tamaraw Revo as compared to its passenger cars – the Camry, Corolla and Echo, sports utility vehicle RAV 4 and its trucks and pick-ups.

Rodriquez said that Honda was able to take the lead in passenger cars "because it offers more car variants compared to Toyota which just has the Camry and Corolla."

Rodriquez exlained that Toyota only introduced the Echo in the middle of last year and thus was not able to show full year sales figure.

Min Magbal, Honda Car Phils. Inc. assistant manager for corporate communications attributed Honda’s number one position in terms of passenger car sales to Honda’s attention to quality and after sales service.

Honda, she admitted, eventually hopes to take the overall lead even though its current overall rank is just number three behind Toyota and Mitsubishi Motor Phils. Corp.

Mitsubishi ranked number two in terms of total industry sales with its bestseller being the counterpart of Toyota’s Revo which is the Adventure. Mitsubishi’s sales totaled 16,102 units.

Nissan Motor Phils Inc. was a far fourth with sales of 5,957 units following Honda’s sales of 12,514 units.

In terms of passenger cars, industry sales rose by only 4.5 percent to 28,826 units from the 1999 sales of 27,580 units.

Sales of commercial vehicles improved by nearly 18 percent to 55,123 units last year from 46,834 units in 1999.

For this year, local manufacturers are not expecting the same positive performancer in light of the continuing political crisis which is expected to hamper the country’s economic growth.