Automotive sales up 8.1% in 9 months

Sales of the automotive industry managed to improve in the first nine months of the year despite the economic downturn and the influx of imported used vehicles.

Based on the industry sales figures of the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI), total industry sales grew by 8.1 percent to 61,350 units in January to September this year from 56,743 units sold in the same period last year.

Industry sources said the growth was driven mainly by the expansion in the sales of commercial vehicles.

Sales of commercial vehicles grew by 15.4 percent to 44,798 units from 38,835 units a year ago.

Passenger car sales, on the other hand, declined by 7.6 percent to 16,552 units from 17,908 units in the same period last year.

For September alone, industry sales climbed at a double-digit rate of 15.6 percent.

Toyota Motors Phils. Corp. maintained its grip on the number one slot in terms of total industry and passenger car sales.

Mitsubishi Motors Phils. Corp. was number two overall, although in terms of passenger car sales it only comes in at number three, with Honda at second place.

Honda Car Phils. Inc. settled for third place in terms of overall industry sales followed by Isuzu and Nissan Motors Phils. at fifth place. Ford Motors Co. Phils. settled at eighth place.