Car sales up 15.7 pct in 2013

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - Car sales rose by 15.7 percent on year to 181,283 units in 2013, the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines (CAMPI) reported today.

CAMPI said sales in December alone reached an "all-time high" of 17,185 units, or 12 percent higher than the 15,639 units sold in December 2012.

"The year 2013 proved to be a good year for the auto industry," CAMPI President Rommel Gutierrez said in a statement.

Gutierrez said the performance of local auto assemblers in 2013 was fueled by the increase in the sales of passenger cars and commercial vehicles.

Last year, CAMPI said the passenger car segment exhibited the highest growth rate of 26 percent, with sales of 61,083 units.

Sales of commercial vehicles also went up by 11 percent on year to 120,200 units in 2013.

Japanese car maker Toyota Motors Philippines Corp. led the industry with a 41-percent market share, followed by Mitsubishi Motors with 24 percent, and Honda with 7.37 percent.

Gutierrez said the Philippine auto industry is "more bullish" this year and is targeting to increase 2014 sales by 10 percent.

He said the continued improvement in the country's economy, increased consumer confidence as well as the introduction of new vehicle models and promotion packages will propel the growth of the auto industry this year.