Toyota, Mitsubishi top car sales in first half of 2021

More cars were sold in the country in June this year compared to the same period in 2020, most of them from mainstream brands. Leading the charge are Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation (TMPC) and Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC).

Toyota still rules the roost by accounting for the lion's share of increased car sales

This was according to data from the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) and Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) released on Tuesday. The joint report said that sales of locally assembled cars and trucks amounted to 22,550 units in June 2021, an increase of almost 45 percent compared to 15,578 units that rolled off showrooms in the same month last year.

Of the total sales in the first half of 2021 so far, TMPC took the top spot with 63,758 vehicles sold, improving from 35,648 units sold in the first six months of 2020. MMPC came in second place with 19,858 vehicles driven off by customers, a slight increase from 15,133 units between January and June 2020. Suzuki Auto Philippines (SPH) managed third ranking with 9,987 units sold, from 5,660 units that changed hands during the same period in 2020.      

Mitsubishi is in second place with almost 20,000 units sold in the first half of 2021

Imported vehicles also reported a jump in numbers with a 33 percent increase from 3,698 units sold in June 2020 to 4,936 units last month, according to the Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors, Inc. (AVID). Total sales for January to June 2021 numbered 30,153 units, a 55 percent hike compared to the first half of 2020. Month-on-month figures were more modest, with June 2021 sales inching only one percent from 4,871 units sold in May.

Despite locally made vehicles recording double-digit growth compared to last year, month-on-month sales only recorded a 2.2 percent increase, according to CAMPI President Rommel Gutierrez.

Demand for imported vehicles such as the Geely Okavango also increased sales by 33 percent

“The auto industry continues to adjust to the effects of the pandemic, at the same time striving to strike a balance between its contribution to the economy and keeping its stakeholders safe and healthy during these unprecedented times,” he said, adding that it might not be until 2023 when the car industry returns to pre-pandemic sales.

For her part, AVID President Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo holds a more positive outlook. “It has been an uphill struggle for the automotive industry, more so among importers, but the recent numbers are encouraging,” she remarked. “As our nation progresses toward achieving herd immunity, the automotive industry has proven resilient and poised to emerge stronger than ever.”

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