Philippines’ cumulative auto sales in 2020 stood at 223,793 units, down by 39.5pc as compared to 369,941 units sold in 2019, according to media reports citing data released by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc (CAMPI) and Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA).
Passenger car sales attributed 32pc to total auto sales, declining by 36.2pc to 69,638 units from 109,197 units sold in the preceding year.
Commercial vehicle (CV) sales in 2020 stood at 154,155 units, down by 40.9pc as compared to 260,744 units in 2019, contributing 68pc to the total sales.
| Commercial vehicle sales in 2020 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | 2020 | 2019 | YoY (pc) |
| LCVs | 116,858 | 205,805 | -43.2pc |
| Asian utility vehicles | 29,085 | 40,838 | -28.8pc |
| Light trucks | 4,469 | 7,915 | -43.5pc |
Sales of category 4 trucks and buses in 2020 fell by 40.8pc to 2,831 units from 4,779 units in the prior year, while sales of category 5 trucks and buses dropped by 35.2pc to 912 units as compared to 1,407 units in 2019.
The auto sector across the globe was disrupted and affected due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic-induced lockdown and restriction. The purchasing powers of consumers also declined, especially between April and June. The auto sector slowly recovered monthly after relaxations of the restrictions and re-opening of Asian economies.
The association is yet to release its annual auto sales forecast for 2021.
December auto sales
The country’s total auto sales in December 2020 grew by 19.1pc to 27,596 units as compared to 23,162 units sold in November but down by 18.1pc from 33,715 units in the same month in 2019.
The improvement in sales from the prior month was driven by the holiday season which contributed to the uptick in demand for auto sales in December amid improving business and consumer confidence, the association said. Of total December sales, commercial vehicle sales grew by 22.4pc, while passenger cars grew by 12.7pc.
The top auto leader in December was Toyota, contributing 43.79pc to the total sales, followed by Mitsubishi (18.32pc), Nissan (11.54pc), Suzuki (6.47pc) and Ford (5.92pc).