Vehicle sales in the Philippines rose by 37.3% to 13,596 units in December, compared with a depressed 9,885 units a year earlier, according to Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc (Campi).
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Volumes in December were up by 7% compared with the 12,702 units sold in November, which points to strengthening consumer demand – helped by high levels of remittances from overseas workers and competitive finance packages.
Full-year sales amounted to a 132,444 units – 6.4% higher than the 124,449 units sold in 2008 and a level not seen since the record volumes of the mid-1990s. Commercial vehicle sales rose by 7.7% to 86,216 units, compared with 80,023 units in 2008, to account for 65.1% of the total market. Passenger car sales rose by 4.1% to 46,228 units, compared with 44,426 units in 2008.
Toyota sold 46,193 vehicles in 2009, just 0.6% higher than in 2008; followed by Mitsubishi with 23,247 units (+32.5%); and Honda with 17,168 units (+20.1%).
Elizabeth Lee, Campi president, said the “spike in sales in December augurs well for 2010”. The association expects the market to expand by a further 4.4% this year, citing higher fleet deliveries to national and local government departments due to election spending; new models; and continued high remittances from overseas workers.
Tony Pugliese
