RP seen to remain a strong market for luxury cars

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines will remain a strong market for luxury automobiles despite being hit by the global slowdown in consumer demand.

This is the positive outlook of Benedicto Coyiuto, Audi director and group head of Audi Center Philippines saying that although the global meltdown has affected the automobile industry, luxury cars particularly “Audi will continue to draw growth and strong sales in the difficult year of 2009.”

We have had strong sales in the past months and in coming months, growths would continue,” he said, as he announced the introduction of more models in the market.

Earlier local importers of luxury cars like Volvo and Lexus said they were upbeat on sales this year, citing the resilient upscale market and new models as sales drivers.

In the Philippines, PGA Cars Inc., the exclusive dealer of Audi cars in the country, reported that combined sales of Audi and Porsche reached 242 units last year, 26.7 percent better than in 2007.

Coyiuto said Audi sold over a million cars in 2008 worldwide, an increase of 4.1 percent compared to 2007. He said Audi aims to double sales this year and dominate the domestic luxury vehicle segment through better customer care service.

“As I have previously said, we are very confident in the Audi brands performance in the global arena and we are optimistic that it will also do extremely well here in the Philippines. With the opening of Audi Alabang, we are certain in at least doubling our sales performance this year,” he said.

Audi Philippines late last year unveiled its Audi Terminal in Alabang, a 12-car showroom. Completed in December, the new showroom complies with the standard of its German headquarters, which plans to build 350 of the same worldwide in 2012.

Coyiuto said the company will soon release new models including the Audi A5 2-door coupe, an upgrade of the Audi A3 1.8 TFSI and the Audi QS SUV.