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With
another strong performance in August of an 8-percent
sales growth, the local auto industry is now just 26,435
units short of finally breaching the 100,000-unit annual
sales mark after a decade of trying, with still four
months to go.
The
Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers Association of the
Philippines Inc. (Campi) reported Tuesday that the
industry has sold 73,565 units from January to August,
representing a 16-percent increase from the same period
last year, and an average 2007 monthly sales of 9,195
units.
This
means that from September to December, the industry only
needs to sell an average of 6,608 units per month to
reach 100,000 units, something it has not done since
1997.
But the
industry aims to sell 8,600 units per month entering the
traditionally peak holiday sales season to achieve its
upped target of selling 108,000 units for the year. In
August, the industry sold 9,375 units.
“Once
achieved, the industry would have the highest sales in
the past 10 years, surpassing the 100,000 mark,” Campi
president Elizabeth Lee said in a statement.
Lee said
the success of the 1st Philippine International Motor
Show last month will also help the industry achieve this
goal as the new and upgraded models displayed there
registered bookings, which will eventually be converted
to sales in the coming months.
“The
industry expects to continue its growth in the coming
months backed by a stable economic environment. The
continuous efforts of the government against smuggling
will also help support sales from the formal auto
sector,” added Lee.
Sales of
passenger cars, which accounts for 35 percent of the
market, grew by 4 percent from January to August to
25,670 units, while commercial vehicles AUVs, SUVs,
vans, pickup trucks, buses, light trucks and trucks
registered a sales increment of 23 percent for the
period to 47,895 units.
Toyota
remains ahead of the pack with a seven-month total of
27,037 units, or a 36.75-percent market share.
Completing the Top 10 are Honda, 11,409 units sold;
Mitsubishi, 9,440 units; Isuzu, 6,133; Hyundai, 5,325;
Ford plus Mazda, 4,903; Universal Motors, 2095;
Columbian Autocar, 1,694; Pilipinas Hino/Suzuki, 1,570,
and Nissan Motor, 1,559. |
