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By Katrina Mennen A. Valdez
, Researcher
The car market perked up in the
first quarter with the industry reporting more units sold this year
than it registered in the same period in 2006, the Chamber of
Automotive and Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. announced
Thursday.
Campi vice-president Elizabeth
Lee said overall year-to-date sales of the total industry for the
first quarter jumped 18.7 percent equivalent to 26,201 units sold.
Commercial vehicles (CV)
continued to dominate the auto industry, posting 24-percent growth
or 17, 036 units sold, trailed by passenger cars (PC), which grew by
9.9 percent.
The PCs, however, rallied by 42.7
percent in March from its performance in February, boosted largely
by the introduction of new models, dealer incentives and existing
promos.
The industry sold 10,206 PCs for
the month.
On the other hand, the CVs
advanced by 9.3 percent in March from February sales, which Lee
attributed to “numerous exciting new model introductions this
early in the year coupled with fleet sales deliveries.”
More than half or 57 percent of
the CV sales were cornered by light commercial vehicles, while Asian
Utitlity Vehicles took 43 percent share.
Toyota Motors Philippines Corp.
kept the lead with a market share of 39.17 percent and 10,264 units
sold for this quarter. Honda Cars Philippines at No. 2 position
registered year-to-date sales of 3,999 units, making Mitsubishi
Motors Philippines No. 3 with total sales of 3,214 units. Isuzu
Philippines made it to No.4 with 2,360 units, making Ford Motors
Company Philippines No. 5 with sales of 1,982. However, as of this
time, FMCP being the sole exporter of vehicles has not released a
single unit abroad. Hyundai Asia Resources chaired the No. 6
position with 1,668 units sold.
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