Car sales up 12% in 1st 10 months

Car sales went up by 12 percent to 80,841 units in the first 10 months of the year from 72,464 units in the same period last year, based on preliminary sales figures from Toyota Motor Co.

Passenger car sales, based on Toyota’s figures, rose by nine percent to 29,575 units from January to October this year compared with last year’s sales of 27,199 units.

Commercial vehicle sales, Toyota figures show, also posted a 13 percent growth with total sales of 51,266 units from January to October this year as compared to only 45,265 units sold in the same period last year.

Toyota remained on top, selling 29,126 units for the 10-month period.

Mitsubishi Motors came in next with total sales of 11,159 units followed by Honda with total sales of 8,111 units for the 10- month period.

According to Toyota spokesperson Ariel de Jesus, the whole industry, except for Toyota enjoyed higher sales.

Toyota failed to increase its sales due to a shortage in production especially of the popular Vios model.

Thus, Ford, Mitsubishi, Honda and the rest were able to boost their sales through various sales promotions such as financing, discounting and even raffles.

The local car industry is optimistic, de Jesus said, of achieving the 2005 sales target of 96,000 units which would be higher than the actual sales of 88,000 units last year.

However, Toyota’s sticker prices may be adjusted soon to input the expanded value added tax.

Hopefully, de Jesus said, the impact would be minimal.