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Ford Motor Company Philippines is optimistic about
meeting its sales targets this year, especially about moving its
fuel-efficient cars, said its president, Rick Baker.
Ford Philippines can reach its
sales goals, Baker said, adding the local automotive industry could
withstand the problems it currently faces, such as the ongoing
economic crunch and skyrocketing fuel prices worldwide.
The Chamber of Automotive
Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (Campi) reported on Tuesday
that car sales in June declined by minus 1.2 percent month on month.
Ford Philippines’ sales that
month declined by minus 15.8 percent month-on-month despite posting
a 6.7-percent sales increase for the first six months year-on-year,
according to the Campi report.
Baker attributed last month’s
sales drop to the opening of classes, when most parents prioritized
tuition payments over car purchases.
“But there would be no slowing
down, and we are optimistic that the Philippine automotive industry
would reach its sales forecast of 125,500 units this year,” he
said.
The executive also noted a shift
in the market, wherein more customers are opting to buy
lower-displacement or fuel-efficient vehicles.
Baker said Ford’s line-up of
fuel-efficient cars, sports-utility vehicles and trucks such as
Focus, Escape and Ranger boast diesel engines, which sit well with
the intent of buyers to save up on gasoline.
He predicted that diesel vehicles
would move faster now than in the past as a result of continuing
spikes in oil prices.
Baker also disclosed that the
global response to Ford Focus, a sedan model manufactured here, has
been very good this year. The company imports the vehicles it sells
in the country, except for Focus, its only model assembled locally
and distributed worldwide.
Ford Philippines, which also
sells Mazda cars, ranks sixth in total vehicle sales for the first
half of the year with 3,924 units sold so far and garnering 6.4
percent of the total market.
--Ben Arnold O. de Vera
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