CAMPI, TMA remain ‘cautiously optimistic’ following ‘decent’ Jan. auto sales

MANILA: The Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) and the Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) registered a consolidated sales total of 23,380 units last January, virtually replicating the performance during the same month last year (23,723 units).

Even with the marginal decrease, CAMPI and TMA, in a release, said that that unit sales are “still considered a positive sign that the industry is slowly recovering.” Versus December 2020, January sales decreased by 15%, but this was expected as a cyclical occurrence.

“Commercial vehicle (performance) continues to dominate the market with a total share of 68.8%, with the remaining 31.2% shared by the passenger car segment. The CV sales performance reflects the continuous trend of the market preference shifting to larger vehicles,” continued the statement.

Meanwhile, CAMPI President Atty. Rommel Gutierrez expressed cautious optimism about the coming months: “The pandemic still poses a challenge to the automotive industry.  We are also monitoring how the market will react with the imposition of the provisional safeguard duties (which started in) February, which could potentially impact on the prices of imported motor vehicles,” he said.

Leading January sales was Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation (TMP) which moved  10,820 units, accounting for 46.28% of total group sales. Compared to the same month last year, TMP’s output grew by 21.7% from 8,890 units.

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation was second, cornering 15.05% of total sales with 3,518 units last month. This figure represents a 29.9% decline from the same period last year when it sold 5,011 units. Nissan Philippines, Inc. sold 2,321 units (down 17.8% percent compared to January 2020’s 2,825 total) to corner 9.93% of the market.

In fourth place was Ford Motor Company Philippines, Inc., which sold 1,720 units (up 15.3% versus January 2020’s 1,492-unit total). The brand accounted for 7.36% of total sales. Suzuki Philippines, Inc., completes the top five (6.66%), reporting 1,556 units in sales, growing by 5.5% over the same period last year when it moved 1,475 vehicles.

Photo from Volkswagen

Also read: Toyota PH looks forward to help drive industry recovery this year