Isuzu sales up 19% in November

MANILA, Philippines - Isuzu Philippines Corp. (IPC) saw its sales grow by 19 percent in November from the previous month amid strong demand for the mu-X.

IPC said in a statement its total sales for the month of November reached 1,637 units, up from the 1,377 units sold in October.

The firm attributed the higher month-on-month sales to the demand for the mu-X sports utility vehicle launched in September.

Sales of the mu-X reached 532 units in November, 60.2 percent higher than the 332 units sold in October.

“The overwhelming market response toward the All-New mu-X means that consumer confidence over the Isuzu brand is not just consistent but is, in fact, even growing as we continue to offer innovative models,” IPC president Nobuo Izumina said.

“Undoubtedly, the current positive state of the Philippine economy is also a key factor as this boosts spending. Isuzu Philippines’ growth in November, along with the uptake of the entire domestic automotive industry, reflects this optimism,” he said further.

Other vehicle models such as the Crosswind Asian utility vehicle and D-Max pickup, meanwhile, posted declines in November compared to the previous month.

Crosswind sales dipped by 5.6 percent month-on-month to 319 units in November, while sales of the D-Max reached 307 units in November, down 5.8 percent from the previous month.

As for the Category III N-Series or light-duty trucks, IPC’s sales grew by 38.1 percent in November to reach 326 units in November from 236 units in October.

The firm’s Category V heavy-duty trucks also posted a staggering 433.3 percent growth with deliveries of 16 units in November versus three in October.

Compared to its total vehicle sales which reached 1,001 units in November 2013, IPC’s sales last month rose by 63.5 percent.

For the January to November period, IPC’s total sales posted a 17.6 percent growth to 12,644 units this year from 10,749 units in the same period in 2013, making the firm on track to meet its record-high sales target of 14,500 units this year.

For next year, the firm aims to sell 18,000 units, with the mu-X seen to be the main driver of higher sales.