THE ASSOCIATION of Vehicle Importers and Distributors, Inc. (AVID) registered sales of 8,089 units in December 2019, representing a 12% increase versus the same month in 2018. The full-year total was 87,984 units — a decrease of 0.5% compared to 88,430 units sold the previous year.
Said AVID President Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo in a release: “AVID’s performance in the last month of the year augurs well for the automotive industry as we begin the Year of the Metal Rat and the new decade. The continued easing of inflation rates, lower fuel prices, and increased government spending will only bolster sales for the group. We will complement these positive indicators with new models, value-packed service offerings, and easier ownership schemes.”
Passenger car (PC) sales were lower by 0.5% from 30,876 units sold in 2018 to 30,726 last year. Hyundai sold the most in the segment — surpassing all reporting AVID members combined — with a total of 17,761 units in 2019. Suzuki followed with 8,621 units. The PC segment climbed by five percent in December 2019 alone with 2,608 units versus the same month in 2018.
In the light commercial vehicle (LCV) segment, AVID recorded a 1.1% dip in 2019 sales — from 56,999 units sold in 2018 to 56,351 units in 2019. December performance, however, was encouraging as sales increased by 16% in December 2019 alone with 5,362 units sold versus the same month last year. Ford led the segment with a total of 19,993 units sold, followed by Suzuki (15,298), and Hyundai (15,095).
AVID collectively recorded a 63% year-on-year increase in commercial vehicle (CV) sales, led by Hyundai trucks and buses.
The association said that with the approval of the P4.1-trillion national budget for 2020, and with the public works and highways department having one of the largest shares of the budget, “it is expected that industry performance will gain traction in the new decade with the help from its importers bringing in more models that meet the requirements of various markets for the Filipino people.”
Ms. Agudo asserted, “It is appropriate that the recent budget carries the theme ‘Continuing the journey to a more peaceful and progressive Philippines’ since it focuses on critical infrastructure, human capital development, and peace and order initiatives. AVID hopes to contribute to this aim by offering better mobility solutions for both public and private sectors.”
