Toyota raises 2013 sales forecast to 75,000 units

MANILA, Philippines - Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. (TMPC) has raised its sales projection for this year to more than 75,000 units from a previous expectation of at least 70,000 units, citing strong demand for cars here.

“Last year, we broke our previous all-time sales record of 65,396 units, and this year, we will be hitting more than 75,000 units in the expected booming market of more than 200,000 units,” TMPC President Michinobu Sugata said during the firm’s 25th Anniversary Thursday night.

He told reporters the firm hiked its sales projection to protect its market share, with total vehicle sales in the country seen to reach more than 200,000 units this year.

Sugata said the firm likewise decided to raise its forecast following the good reception of the market of the all-new Vios sedan launched last month.

“We just launched it but we reached our target in July in terms of retail sales,” he said noting that sales reached almost 1,500 units last month.

The firm is anticipating strong demand for the third generation model of the Vios citing improved features.

TMPC has established itself as the market leader over the years, accounting for the bulk of total vehicle sales here.

Apart from the Vios, the firm’s Innova which is also locally produced, is among the highest selling models in the country.

As TMPC seeks to achieve higher sales this year and meet strong market demand, it is expanding its production capacity by strengthening its localization efforts with suppliers.

“We are also beefing up our dealer network to reach our customers nationwide, and we are upgrading our human resources to take our operations to greater heights,” Sugata said.

As part of the firm’s continued commitment to the Philippines and in celebration of its 25 years of existence, the firm also inaugurated its technical school, TMP School of Technology (TMP Tech) located in Santa Rosa City in Laguna yesterday.

TMP Tech was established to provide education and produce professionals qualified to work in a Toyota dealer network in any part of the world.

The school, which will offer a two-year course in Automotive Technology, is slated to start operations in September.

“With the increasing demand for new vehicles brought about by Philippine motorization, TMP Tech fits perfectly into TMP’s Total Customer Satisfaction program. As the number of automotive vehicle shoots up, there will also be a high demand for automotive technicians providing after-sales service to Toyota customers,” Sugata said.

Looking forward, TMPC intends to sustain its growth and become the best automotive company in the region through investment in people, technology and local production.

“As long as we can find potential here, we will continue investing,” Sugata said.

He said the release of the roadmap for the automotive industry, however, would be needed in deciding to make future investments here.

“The roadmap is very important for us to make that step so that when it comes out, we’re able to sit down seriously with our counterparts in Japan and Singapore in order to talk about new investments,” TMPC vice chairman Alfred Ty told reporters.

Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo said earlier the government plans to provide incentives to car manufacturers under the roadmap based on the volume of vehicles assembled here and exports.

Ty said that before car firms could export, the local industry would need to grow first.

“When the industry grows, then more car parts makers (will) also grow and make their parts cost efficient, then that becomes a key part for export,” he said.

“There is no definite number (we need to see) but it is the pace of growth. The thing is, with the growth and with the support, it helps us develop a case to our regional counterparts,” he said further.