Auto sales increase by 90% in Aug.

MANILA: According to the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI) and the Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA), the number of automobiles sold in August 2022 increased by 90.5% to 30,185 units.

This is in contrast to 15,847 units sold in August of the previous year.

“The recovery of the industry is indeed on track as we reached monthly sales of above 30,000 units – a pre-pandemic monthly performance level last recorded in 2019,” CAMPI President Rommel Gutierrez said in a statement.

Due to risks from the Delta variant, the government imposed an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila in August 2021. Under ECQ, a commercial establishment's operating capacity was restricted.

Sales in the auto industry increased from 27,813 units in July 2022 by 8.5 percent month over month. Both the passenger car and commercial vehicle divisions saw increases on a monthly and annual basis.

According to the joint CAMPI-TMA tally, the industry sold 6,733 passenger cars and 23,452 commercial vehicles in the previous month.

Total industry sales increased from 170,112 units in January to August 2022 to 212,872 units, a 25.1 percent increase.

Commercial vehicle sales have increased by 39 percent year to date to 160,790 units, whereas sales of passenger automobiles have fallen by 4.3 percent to 52,082 units in the same time frame.

According to Gutierrez, the results of sales last month indicate that the industry is hopeful about reaching its 336,000 unit sales goal for 2022.

Meanwhile, CAMPI successfully held the 8th Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS) – which had been inactive for four years – at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

With the theme “Mobility + Humanity: Innovating for the Common Good”, the 2022 Philippine International Motor Show brought together the country's biggest car manufacturers and partners in raising awareness on the future of mobility through sustainable and safer mobility solutions.

Following the PIMS’ theme, top automotive brands — BMW, Chery, Foton, Geely, Honda, Hyundai, Isuzu, Kia, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Suzuki, and Toyota — had begun showcasing their electrified vehicles, aside from transport innovations and mobility solutions.

One of the best-selling carmakers in the country, Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) underscored its market lead in terms of hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) at PIMS 2022. TMP showcased its hybrid models the Camry, Corolla Altis GR-S HEV, and Corolla Cross GR-S HEV.

TMP's range of HEVs are positioned to offer affordable access to electrified technology. HEVs do not rely on charging from fossil-based power sources, but instead generate their own power through self-charging systems.

On the other hand, Mitsubishi Motor Philippines Corporation (MMPC) showed how its Dendo Drive Station works with the Outlander PHEV.

The Dendo Drive Station showcases Mitsubishi’s vehicle-to-home (V2H) energy ecosystem. The V2H provides charge to the Outlander PHEV, which in turn, sends electricity back to the station.

PHEVs can be driven on electric power alone for a certain distance and speed. Once the charge has run out, the regular combustion engine takes over just like in a full hybrid. In pure electric mode, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV can travel for 55 kilometers without emitting CO2 or using a drop of fuel.

MMPC also announced the comeback of its Ralliart brand at the 8th Philippine International Motor Show. The Ralliart versions of Mitsubishi Strada and Mitsubishi Montero Sport were unveiled at the event.

Photos from Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI) and Hazel Nicole Carreon

Also read: PIMS 2022 goes underway with electrified vehicles