Auto industry on a roll, sales up after “ber” months

Despite the seasonal slowdown in car sales after the Yuletide season, the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI) registered brisk sales in the first two months of 2015.
 
“Normally we experience slow sales after the usual consumer spending of the Christmas season, but for this year sales were surprisingly on an upward trend,” said CAMPI president Rommel Gutierrez.
 
The February figures reflect a positive development for the auto industry as sales reached a record 16,828 units, up nearly almost 17 percent from 14,439 a year earlier.
 
All product categories recorded brisk sales, according to the association.
 
Consumers continued to take advantage special offers that go with new models of passenger cars introduced since the last quarter of 2014.
 
Passenger car sales grew by 22 percent to 5,620 units last February from 4,618 units in February 2014.
 
“We have projected a 15 percent growth for the entire year. The January sales performance is an early sign that our targets are achievable, with more new product launches and promotion packages to come throughout the year,” Gutierrez noted.
 
CAMPI reported a 19 percent increase in sales last January, citing figures from the joint Marketing Committee of CAMPI and the Truck Manufacturers Association  (TMA). Total sales in the first month of the year reach 18,662 unit from 15,647 a year earlier.
 
The January sales were a record which showed the industry achieved the numbers the first time compared with results over the last 10 years.
 
This happened despite the fact that January is traditionally a slow moth after the spending binge for the Yuletide season, according to CAMPI.
 
Toyota Motors Philippines accounted for a market share of nearly 47 percent, followed by Mitsubishi Motors with 17.4 percent.
 
The Ford Group cornered 8.8 percent of the market, while Isuzu registered 6.6 percent and Honda Cars with 6.1 percent. – VS, GMA News