Auto sales jump 26.4% in January

The year 2003 is starting off well for the local automotive industry.

Based on a report from the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI), the industry zoomed with a notable 26.4- percent growth in January, selling a total of 6,960 units compared with the 5,508 units sold in the same period last year.

CAMPI said the growing demand for Asian utility vehicles (AUV) as well as vans and pick-ups fueled last month’s growth.

Demand for commercial vehicles went up by nearly 43 percent to 5,106 units last month from 3,585 units in January 2002.

Sales of passenger cars, on the other hand, continued to remain in the doldrums, with demand declining by 3.6 percent to 1,854 units, from 1,923 units sold in the same period last year.

Toyota Motors Philippines Corp. continued to lead the pack with sales reaching 2,007 units, or nearly 29 percent of total industry sales.

Honda Cars Philippines followed with sales of 1,455 units while Isuzu Philippines Corp. settled for the number three spot with sales of 1,145 units.

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. slid to number four with sales of 1,033 units in January followed by the combined sales of Nissan Motor Philippines Inc. and Universal Motors Corp. with 507 units sold.

American car company, Ford Motors Co. Philippines Inc. remained at the bottom of the list with sales of 365 units last month.

The Truck Manufacturers Association Inc. released its own figures, which were slightly different from the CAMPI statistics.

Based on TMAI data, total industry sales for January reached 7,305 units, up by 29 percent over the December level.

Commercial vehicle sales, the TMAI reported, posted a 46- percent month-on-month growth.

Sales of AUVs, according to TMAI, provided the upward push with 3,242 units sold including the Honda-CRV which has been classified as an AUV.

TMAI agrees that Toyota is still the market leader with a market share of 30.91 percent as against Honda which accounted for only 26.03 percent.