Auto sales slide by 11.5% in Aug.

MANILA: A two-week ECQ lockdown in August is said to have contributed to the sluggish auto sales for the month, compared to the same period last year.

Based on a consolidated report of the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) and Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA), total sales for August 2021 reached 15,847 units — a 11.5% decline versus the 17,906 units moved in the same period last year.

In a release, CAMPI President Atty. Rommel Gutierrez said the negative growth was a consequence of “decline in economic activity and consumer spending in general, which was worsened by the stricter two-week lockdown in the National Capital Region and nearby provinces reimposed last month.”

Nonetheless, year-to-date figures still reflect growth from the same period in 2020. CAMPI and TMA member companies sold 170,112 units — a 37.8% increase compared to 123,489 vehicles over the same stretch last year.

Still leading all companies in sales is Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation (TMP).It accounted for close to half (49.65%) of total units moved in August. However, TMP vehicle sales declined by 26.9% to 7,868 units in August compared to 10,763 vehicles sold in July. YTD, the company has moved 82,389 vehicles, growing from the 52,525 units sold in the same period last year.

In second place for August is Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) with 1,408 units sold — down 46.8% month-on-month (from 2,646 vehicles). The company cornered 8.88% of the market. MMPC’s YTD sales totaled 23,912 — accounting for 14.06% of total vehicles sold.

Suzuki Philippines, Inc. (SPH) is in third (with 8.32% market share) via 1,319 vehicles sold, down 20.2% from 1,648 units moved in July. YTD, SPH has sold 12,954 units, accounting for 7.61% of total vehicles delivered. Ford Motor Company Philippines, Inc. (FMCPI) is still in fourth place with August sales of 1,480 units, down from 1,586 units in July. Ford took a 9.34% slice of the month’s sales.

Nissan Philippines, Inc. (NPI) completes the top five with 1,090 (down 19.9% versus July) units sold last month. It cornered 6.88% of CAMPI/TMA sales.

Atty. Gutierrez said that “the message of this bleak performance is worth noting: (A) stricter lockdown strategy in response to curbing the COVID-19 pandemic affects the auto industry’s recovery this year. The industry targets to achieve total sales of 295,400 units or 20.9% growth than the actual sales recorded last year.”

Photo by Kap Maceda Aguila

Also read: CAMPI, TMA sales inch up by 4.7% in July