TOTAL imported car sales in September declined 12% year on year to 4,946 units led by weaker passenger car sales, the Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors, Inc. (AVID) said.
AVID said in a statement on Wednesday that passenger car sales for September fell 28% year on year to 1,432 units from 1,992 units sold in the same month last year.
Further, the group said sales of light commercial vehicles (LCV) and commercial vehicles (CV) for September posted a decline of 3% and 13% to 3,488 units and 26 units, respectively.
Month on month, total imported car sales increased 26% compared with 3,919 units sold in August.
Year-to-date figures disclosed by AVID showed that total vehicle sales for the three quarters to September rose 26% to 43,957 units.
“We have weathered the volatile market conditions of the third quarter. With improving health conditions and a more stable outlook, AVID is optimistic and driven to wind up this last quarter on a strong note,” AVID President Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo said.
The group added that year-to-date CV sales rose 311% year on year to 917 units.
“Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI) trucks and buses have been on a roll, capturing 98% of total AVID CV sales. The Korean brand sold 906 units year to date, which is a significant improvement from the 223 units sold in the same period last year,” the group said.
Meanwhile, AVID said year-to-date LCV sales increased 37% year on year to 31,444 units.
It disclosed that Ford Group Philippines, Inc. (FGPI) led the segment with 13,258 units sold, followed by Suzuki Philippines, Inc. (SPI) with 8,677 units, and Sojitz G Auto Philippines (SGAP) with 3,818 units sold.
On the other hand, AVID said year-to-date sales of passenger cars dropped 1% year on year to 11,596 units.
SPI had the highest sales at 5,768 units followed by HARI at 3,829 units, and FGPI at 1,446 units.
In March, Ms. Perez-Agudo said imported car sales growth in 2021 is expected to reach between zero and 20%.
Recently, a joint report of the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) and Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) also showed that their vehicle sales in September declined 12.4% year on year to 21,493 units. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave
