Automotive sales up 1.6% in Jan-Nov

Automotive sales went up by 1.6 percent to 89,391 units in the first 11 months of the year from 87,996 units in the same period last year, based on a combined report of the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI) and the Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA).

For November alone, the automotive industry sold a total of 9,037 units, showing a growth of 9.3 percent compared to the October sales of 8,629 units.

The positive growth as of November is cause for renewed optimism that the industry will post an overall positive growth for 2006, according to CAMPI president Elizabeth H. Lee.

According to Lee, the rise in sales performance was due to a number of fleet sales delivery, some new model introductions, and intensive seasonal year end promotions and marketing activities.

"December sales are expected to do well, adding to the overall positive performance of the industry against last year’s sales," Lee said.

Thus, with the full year overall industry sales target of 97,000 units, the industry needs to sell just 7,609 units for the month of December.

The passenger car segment posted a growth of 7.2 percent for the 11 month period with sales of 34,752 units from 32,425 units a year ago.

Commercial vehicle sales, on the other hand, continued to weaken, 1.7 percent during the review period.

A total of 54,639 units of commrcial vehicles were sold from January to November this year as compared to the 55,571 units sold a year ago.

Sales of Asian utility vehicles for the 11-month period in review were down, posting a 7.4 percent decline with only 22,231 units sold as compared to the 24,005 units sold for the comparable period last year.

Light commercial vehicle sales performed a little better, posting a 2.4 percent growth with 30,208 units sold from January to November this year as compared to the 29,505 units sold for the first 11 months of 2005.

The LCV segment is comprised of pickups, vans, compact and full-size sports utility vehicles.

CAMPI noted that there was a market preference for diesel variants.

Sales of light trucks posted a 7.8 percent growth with 1,550 units sold for the period in review as compared to the 1,438 units sold for the comparable 11 month period last year.

Sales of trucks and buses also posted a growth of 4.3 percent with 650 units sold from January to November this year compared to only 623 units sold for the same 11 month period last year.

Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. is still No. 1 in automotive sales with 34,118 units sold for the first 11 months of this year and accounting for 38.17 of the automotive market.

Honda Cars Philippines Inc. was a far second with sales of only 12,564 units.

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. is at No. 3 with sales of 11,157 units and a 12.48 percent market share.

Isuzu Philippines Corp. maintained its position at No. 4 with sales of 7,284 units and a market share of 8.15 percent, while Ford Motor Company with its subsidiary Mazda is at No. 5 with sales of 6,304 units.

However, Ford also posted export sales of 6,668 units from January to November this year and is the lone participant in the Government’s Automotive Export Program.

Hyundai Asia Resources Inc. is at No. 6 with sales of 5,030 units and a market share of 5.63 percent.

At No. 7 is Nissan Motor Philippines Inc. with sales of 2,901 units and a market share of 3.25 percent.

The No. 8 spot has been grabbed by Universal Motors Corp. (which is part of the Nissan Group but focuses on the pickup, van and SUV segment) with total sales of 2,393 units and a market share of 2.68 percent.

Staying at the No. 9 spot is Columbian Autocar Corp. with sales of 2,173 units for the 11-month period in review, reflecting a market share of 2.43 percent.

The No. 10 spot still belongs to Pilipinas Hino Inc. with sales of 2,057 units for a market share of 2.3 percent.