Isuzu expects lower sales due to weak peso

Isuzu Philippines Corp. vice president for marketing and sales Ken Takashima is hoping to be able to sell a little over 10,000 units this year of various Isuzu models.

However, this year’s projected sales, Takashima admitted would be around 23-percent lower than last year’s total sales of 12,900 units.

The projected lower vehicle sales, Takashima said, would be due to the higher prices of Isuzu vehicles which have been adversely affected by the continuing weakness of the peso against the dollar, the higher excise taxes on Asian utility vehicles (AUVs) and stiffer competition.

According to Takashima, commercial vehicles are expected to account for the bulk of Isuzu’s total sales.

Isuzu holds the number three slot in terms of commercial vehicle sales. "Isuzu has been forced to raise its prices due to the currency differential and the higher excise taxes which may turn off prospective buyers," Takashima said.

At present, however, Takashima said, Isuzu’s bestseller is its D-Max pick-up model.

In fact, for the period December 2003 to January 2004, Isuzu was third in pick-up model sales following Ford Philippines at number two and Nissan Motors Philippines at number one.

Isuzu is fourth overall in terms of total vehicle sales.