CAMPI hikes sales forecast

MANILA, Philippines - Total vehicle sales in the country may hit 210,000 units this year, higher than the earlier projection of 200,000 units amid strong demand seen in the first three months of the year, according to a group of local car assemblers.

“Total industry sales could reach at least 210,000 units this year. That includes sales of the AVID (Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors Inc.),” Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI) president Rommel Gutierrez told reporters yesterday.

He said CAMPI has raised its forecast given the strong sales performance seen in the first three months of the year.

The CAMPI and Truck Manufacturers Association Inc. sold a combined 41,702 units in the first quarter, the highest sales posted for the period in history.

The first quarter sales were up 29 percent from the 32,240 units sold in the same period last year.

Gutierrez said that traditionally, first quarter sales are the lowest among all quarters in any given year.

Meanwhile, the sales of the AVID reached 7,955 units in the first quarter, down by 4.14 percent from the same period last year.

While the AVID’s first quarter sales are still lower than last year’s, the group expects its sales performance to improve in the coming months as supply normalizes.

Last year, the country’s total vehicle sales reached 184,248 units.

Gutierrez said that while total vehicle sales are seen to grow this year from 2012, additional investments by automotive firms here would depend on the roadmap being crafted by the government for the industry.

He said the roadmap should be released by the government this year.

 â€œThey (government) already made public statements in Japan (on the road map) and Japanese firms are expecting that,” he said.

He said the government should have a clear policy direction for the industry and should provide support to encourage more investments.

“Government support is a deciding factor in future investments,” he added.

Board of Investments (BOT) executive director Lucita Reyes said earlier the release of the roadmap for the automotive industry has been delayed as it needs to consult other government agencies on strategies and measures to support firms.