Auto sales up 12% in Jan-Aug

Motor vehicle sales rose by 12 percent to 63,699 units in the first eight months of the year from 57,093 units in the same period last year, the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines and the Truck Manufacturers Association said in a joint report yesterday.

Accounting for the overall increase in automotive sales was a 11-percent growth in commercial vehicle sales and a 12-percent increase in passenger car sales.

Commercial vehicle sales from January to August this year reached 39,981 units as compared to only 35,859 units sold for the comparable period last year.

According to CAMPI and TMA, the 11-percent growth in commercial vehicle sales was due to sustained new model sales from the pickup and compact sport utility vehicle (SUV) segments.

Passenger car sales for the eight months of the year posted a 12-percent growth with total sales of 23,718 units from 21,234 units a year ago.

The CAMPI-TMA attributed the increase in passenger car sales to continued aggressive marketing and financing promos.

Overall sales are expected to be maintained in the coming months.

Sales of Asian utility vehicles (AUV) posted a healthy increase of 22 percent with 18,017 units sold compared to only 14,797 units sold for the first eight months of 2004.

Light commercial vehicles (LCV) sales for the same eight months posted a marginal increase of four percent.

Light Truck sales for the eight- month period showed a four percent growth, while sales of trucks and buses also posted a growth of 26 percent.

Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. still dominated the market with sales of 22,949 units from January to August this year, cornering 36.03 percent of the market.

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. retained its No. 2 slot with sales of 9,044 units.

Isuzu Motors Philippines managed to hang on to the No. 3 spot with sales of 6,469 units.

Honda Cars Philippines Inc. still failed to improve it sales and stayed at the No. 4 spot with sales of 6,191 units.

At No. 5 was Ford Motors Philippines with sales of 5,959 units, including sales of its subsidiary Mazda brand.

Nissan was next with sales of 3,173 units followed by Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. with sales of 2,982 units.