Isuzu sales zoom 66%

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine unit of Japan’s Isuzu Motors Ltd. reported strong sales in the first seven months of the year to clinch the third largest market share in the country’s automotive industry.

Isuzu Philippines Corp. said yesterday it sold 12,317 units from January to July this year, 66 percent more than the 7,441 units sold in the same period last year.

Of the company’s total sales in the seven-month period, 5,911 units were composed of the Isuzu mu-X, a model launched only in September last year.

Isuzu Philippines president Hajime Koso attributed the company’s robust sales growth to the Isuzu mu-X model’s competitive pricing and the now recovering supply allocation.

Koso said the demand for its trucks and buses also contributed to the firm’s strong sales.

The N-Series, Isuzu Philippines’ leading light-duty truck, sold a total of 2,212 units during the seven month period, a 40-percent increase from last year’s 1,584 units sold.

Koso said sales of the N-Series came from the strong fleet sales in the National Capital Region and Visayas, particularly in the Mandaue and Cebu area.

The company’s medium to heavy-duty trucks and buses segment saw sales rise to 204 units from 105 units a year ago.

According to Isuzu Philippines, the increase in sales of the mu-X and trucks category offset the lean performance of the D-Max pick-up and the Crosswind AUV.

The Crosswind sold 2,310 units as of the end of July,  lower than the 3,182 units sold for the same period last year, while the D-Max only had 1,680 units sold for 2015 as compared to the 2,293 units a year earlier.

Koso said the company expects to sustain its strong sales performance in the remaining months of the year.