AVID sales up 22% in January

MANILA, Philippines - Sales of the country’s vehicle importers posted a 22 percent increase in January from a year ago supported by the positive performance of passenger cars (PC) and light commercial vehicles (LCV).

The Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors, Inc. (AVID) said in a statement yesterday the group sold a total of 3,191 units in January, up from the 2,625 units in the same month last year.

This, as both the PC and LCV sales grew by 22 percent year-on-year.

AVID’s PC sales climbed to 1,679 units in January from 1,381 units in the comparable month a year ago.

The group’s LCV sales rose to 1,512 units in January from 1,244 units in the previous year.

But while the AVID’s total vehicle sales went up year-on-year in January, sales declined by nine percent compared to December’s 3,491 units.

Compared to the 1,795 PCs sold by the group in December, PC sales in January were down by 6.5 percent.

LCV sales in January fell by 11 percent from the 1,696 units sold in December.

Following the year-on-year increase in sales in January, AVID president Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo said the group is optimistic sales would continue to grow in the coming months.

“With a host of exciting new models slated to enter the market this year, coupled with January’s performance providing a positive jumpstart to 2014, we at AVID are elated with our prospects for the Year of the Wooden Horse,” she said.

The AVID sold a total of 31,399 vehicles in 2013, 11 percent higher than the 28,400 units in the previous year.

The AVID is composed of 11 member firms such as AutoChina, Inc. (Geely brand); British United Automobiles, Inc. (MINI); CATS Motors Inc.(Mercedes Benz, Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge); The Covenant Car Company, Inc. (Chevrolet); Focus Ventures, Inc. (King Long and FAW); Hyundai Asia Resources Inc.; Jaguar Phil. Inc.; Motor Image Pilipinas Inc. (Subaru); PGA Cars Inc. (Audi, Porsche, Lamborghini and Bentley); Scandinavian Motors Corp. (Volvo); and United Asia Automotive Group, Inc. (Foton).