The local automotive industry posted its highest sales in 12 months with 11,597 units sold in July, a joint report from the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI) and the Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) showed.
The last time the industry reached the 11,000-mark was in July 2008 when 11,636 vehicles were sold.
Last month's sales were 6.3 percent higher than that recorded in June, making it the second best growth for the industry this year based on monthly performance. The industry's best month-on-month growth so far was recorded in March when the volume was 19 percent higher compared to February sales.
CAMPI president Elizabeth H. Lee said July is seasonally good for the car industry as buyers have already shaken off fears about the economy, which is prevalent in the first half.
"There was a wait-and-see attitude and people were holding back. It should already start picking up," Lee said in an interview.
The auto industry's performance in July brings CAMPI and TMA's year-to-date sales to 71,506 units, 2.4 percent lower than the volume sold in January to July 2008.
Passenger car sales in the past seven months inched up 0.3 percent while commercial vehicle sales fell 3.9 percent.
Toyota Motor Philippines continued to dominate the market with year-to-date sales of 24,546 units. Mitsubishi Motors Philippines trailed at a far second with 12,959 units and Honda Cars Philippines ranked third with 10,191 units.
Local carmakers hope to at least match 2008's total volume by selling 125,000 vehicles this year.
"July sales should be a positive signal for the performance in the second half of the year with more robust sales seen in the coming months assuming market conditions improve," Lee said.
| PHILIPPINE AUTO INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE AS OF JULY 2009 | |||||
| Ranking | CAR COMPANY | January to July 2009 | January to July 2008 | Percentage change | Market share |
| 12 | Asian Carmakers Corp. (BMW) | 296 | 477 | -33.8% | 0.6% |
| 8 | Columbian Autocar Corp. | 1,919 | 2,602 | -26.2% | 3.6% |
| 15 | Columbian Motors Corp. | 157 | 187 | -16.0% | 0.3% |
| 17 | Dreamco | 81 | 30 | 170.0% | 0.0% |
| 6 | Ford Motor Company Phils. Inc. (+Mazda) | 4,108 | 4,553 | -9.8% | 6.2% |
| 11 | General Motors Automobiles Phils., Inc | 891 | 1,553 | -42.6% | 2.1% |
| 3 | Honda Cars Philippines Inc. | 10,191 | 8,873 | 14.9% | 12.1% |
| 4 | Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. | 5,789 | 6,035 | -4.1% | 8.2% |
| 5 | Isuzu Philippines Corp. | 4,750 | 6,264 | -24.2% | 8.5% |
| 18 | MAN Automotive Concessionaires Corp. | 7 | 12 | -41.7% | 0.0% |
| 2 | Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. | 12,959 | 9,868 | 31.3% | 13.5% |
| 10 | Nissan Motor Philippines Inc. | 1,116 | 1,734 | -35.6% | 2.4% |
| 13 | PGA Cars, Inc. (Porsche/Audi) | 171 | 132 | 29.5% | 0.2% |
| 14 | Pilipinas Hino Inc | 161 | 219 | -26.5% | 0.3% |
| 16 | Scandinavian Motors Corp. (VOLVO) | 155 | 152 | 2.0% | 0.2% |
| 9 | Suzuki Phils., Inc. | 1,401 | 1,276 | 9.8% | 1.7% |
| 1 | Toyota Motors Philippines Corp. | 24,546 | 26,414 | -7.1% | 36.0% |
| 7 | Universal Motors Corp. | 2,808 | 2,939 | -4.5% | 4.0% |
| Data source: Joint CAMPI and Truck Manufacturers' Association Sales Report | |||||
