Vehicle sales up 6.8% in Q1

MANILA, Philippines — Vehicle sales in the country rose by 6.8 percent in the first quarter from a year ago, supported by strong demand for commercial vehicles.

A joint report from the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. and Truck Manufacturers Association yesterday showed that total vehicle sales reached 117,074 units in the January to March period from 109,606 units in the same period last year.

This was driven by the commercial vehicle segment, which posted a 13.9 percent growth in sales to 92,742 units in the first quarter from 81,395 units recorded a year ago.

Passenger cars, meanwhile, dropped by 13.7 percent to 24,332 units in the January to March period from 28,211 units in the same period last year.

Sales of new energy vehicles covering battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles reached 5,311 units in the first quarter.

In March alone, total vehicle sales climbed by 7.6 percent to 40,306 units this year from 37,474 units in the same month last year.

Sales of commercial vehicles increased by 16.5 percent to 31,857 units in March from 27,347 units in the same month in 2024.

Passenger car sales, on the other hand, dropped by 16.6 percent to 8,449 units in March from the previous year’s 10,127 units.

In March alone, sales of new energy vehicles reached 1,895 units.

Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. remained the market leader in the first quarter with a 47.4 percent share.

Placing second was Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. with a 20 percent share, followed by Nissan Philippines Inc. with a 5.7 percent share.

Suzuki Philippines Inc. ranked fourth with a 4.7 percent share, followed by Ford Motor Co. Philippines Inc. with a 4.5 percent share.