PHL car sales up 15% in Sept., says CAMPI

Demand for passenger cars and commercial vehicles lifted the September sales of carmakers, the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI) said Wednesday, noting the combined sales of group member and the Truck Manufacturers Association Inc. totaled 14,764 units.

 

Sales were up 15 percent from 12,857 a year earlier, and by 8 percent from 13,700 in August, the association noted in an e-mailed statement.

 

The group sold 5,136 passenger cars, up nearly 34 percent from 3,844 year-on-year. It also disposed of 9,628 commercial vehicles, up 7 percent from 9,013.

 

The 'ber' months begins in September, heralding the holiday buying season which peaks in December, said CAMPI president Rommel Gutierrez.

 

"To support this buying trend, the past month saw not just several full new model introductions but new brand launches as well," Gutierrez said, who is also a Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. vice president.

 

In the nine months to September, combined sales of CAMPI and TMA reached 131,381 units, up 18 percent from 111,582 a year earlier.

 

CAMPI data showed Toyota leading the pack in terms of sales, with a 41 percent market share in January to September. Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. was a far second with 24 percent share, and Honda Cars Philippines Inc. with 8 percent.

 

Carmakers aren't just bent on meeting targets, Gutierrez noted, they want to exceed the numbers, which means buyers may expect better promotion packages in the remaining months of the year. – VS, GMA News