PH new car sales rise by almost 17% in H1 2022  

Rising fuel prices for much of the year so far have not stopped Filipinos from prioritizing personal mobility, particularly the four-wheeled kind. Sales of local car brands have picked up the pace in the first six months of 2022. 

Commercial vehicles make up the bulk of new car sales in the first half of 2022

This was according to a joint statement released by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines (CAMPI) and the Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA). Sales data show that 154,784 brand-new units were sold to customers from January to June 2022. 

The number represents an uptick of 16.7 percent compared to the same period in 2021, when automakers managed to sell 132,767 units. 

Toyota continues to get the lion's share of Philippine auto sales 

Commercial vehicles accounted for most of this year’s sales, numbering 115,871 units that rolled off dealerships, for a 28.2 percent rise as opposed to just 90,361 units sold in the first half of 2021. This buffered the impact of lower passenger car sales, which numbered only 39,003 from January to June 2022, compared to 42,406 for the same period last year. 

For June 2022, CAMPI-TMA handed over 28,601 new units to customers, or a rise by 26.8 percent over the 22,550 units during the same month in 2021. 

Toyota is the country’s automotive sales leader with 80,090 vehicles sold so far. Mitsubishi follows at a distant second with 20,734 units sold. Third place goes to Nissan with 11,188 units, while Suzuki takes fourth position with 9,851 cars sold. Rounding up the top five is Ford with 8,956 units.      

“The automotive industry recovery is progressing as new motor vehicle sales reached an upward growth trajectory in June, driven by the pent-up demand from consumers amid the less than ideal economic conditions recorded in the same period,” said CAMPI president Rommel Gutierrez. 

He adds that the industry is optimistic of sustained growth throughout the coming months, although it will be challenging in light of current economic conditions.     

Keep tabs on how the automotive industry is staying afloat at Philkotse.com.