THIS early the industry is celebrating. Why, because it was almost literally a smooth and easy ride for the automotive world as the targeted industry sales of 250,000 units has already been breached with still almost two months to go before 2015 official arrives.
It couldn’t get any better than this. Amid the hoopla, one of the happiest automotive dudes today is Nobuo Izumina, the president of Isuzu Philippines Corp. (IPC).
Why, because Isuzu was one of the first to realize a whopping surge in sales in the year about to end.
Isuzu is on track of scoring a smashing show of force as it already sold a total of 12,644 units in November, a robust increase of 17.6 percent from the 10,749 units sold in the same period in 2013.
That is more than what Isuzu had expected for its sales target this year, considering that IPC’s 2013 total sales totaled “only” 11,793.
Elated by this, Izumina said, “For this year, maybe we will achieve 14,500 units sold. That is our target.”
I think that can easily be achieved now as, last I heard, Isuzu has been raking it in even as the official sales data for December had yet to be collated.
“We can only feel proud over our achievements again this year,” said Art Balmadrid, a ranking IPC officer during Isuzu’s Christmas bash at the plush Fairmont Hotel ballroom in Makati.
“Our vehicles, led by the recent introduction of the MU-X, have performed beyond expectations, ensuring a continued growth that will definitely be felt next year and, hopefully, in the years to come.”
So excited is Izumina over the rosy picture seen ahead by pundits that he confidently predicted Isuzu might yet corner its goal of selling a total 18,000 units in 2015.
He said he also sees a big leap forward for the total industry, forecasting sales to hit a total of 310,000 units in 2015 from this year’s total of 250,000.
Izumina cited the country’s favorable economic upswing, triggering a surge of vehicle demand from both the middle class and the upper crust segment of society.
Balmadrid said since the imported-from-Thailand MU-X was launched in September, the IPC has so far recorded 1,200 units sold.
“This is to add to the fact that our other brands, like the Crosswind, D-Max, Sportivo and other trucks, have also been doing very well,” Balmaldrid said.
Balmadrid, Izumina and other top Isuzu brass lapped it up during the IPC Christmas party, obviously in utter joy over Isuzu’s enviable success in 2014.
To cap the night, Izumina, disguised as a doctor as he wore a white robe for the Career City night motif, climbed up the stage to do a duet with the lead female singer of the band, “Pinch.”
For dishing out a Japanese ditty, he passed the audition.
Honda’s mighty rally
HONDA rallied mightily in the last two months of the year, with October sales recorded at 11,117 units and a 30-percent sales increase in November. Its spirits buoyed up tremendously, Honda said its growth target in 2015 could surge to 10 percent, even as it expects to realize 13,000 units sold by year-end.
After recently absorbing some sales setbacks, Honda rebounded somewhat with renewed vigor in 2014, launching the All-New Jazz in June, the All-New city in April, the third generation Civic in May and the fourth generation CR-V only last month.
On record, Honda emerged fourth among local car assemblers with a total share of 5.79 percent of the Philippine market.
PEE STOP. Happy trip tomorrow to Lexus President Danny “Sir John” Isla, who flies to New Zealand with his “Joy In My Life” to be with their children and grandchildren in the so-called Sea of Sheep during the Yuletide.
It’s been a yearly thing for the lovebirds since their kids, save for Leon, migrated to New Zealand several years back. Lamb chops, kiwis and all, don’t forget to sing “Mr. Moonlight,” Sir John! Always, it pays to reminisce on your moonlit-laden childhood days in Christmastime.
Cheers!…Best wishes to Vince Pornelos, who tied the knot on December 13, with Ray Butch “Elvis” Gamboa as one of the major sponsors. Cheers!…Snarled traffic is here to stay even as 400 traffic aides are to be dispatched for the holidays.
A traffic system as rotten as Francis Tolentino’s idea of a traffic system can only produce rotten results…. It’s seven days to go before Christmas, the happiest day of the year in the Christian faith because it is the birthday of our Lord Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas!