The automotive industry, which is targeting to grow sales by nearly 21 percent this year, are lamenting that the continued implementation of lockdown measures is affecting its efforts to improve its performance.
Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (Campi) President Rommel Gutierrez said car dealers are aiming to sell 295,400 units this year, or 20.9 percent higher than the 2020 record.
Year-to-date, the joint report by Campi and Truck Manufacturers Association showed that the industry has sold 170,112 units, showing a 37.8-percent improvement from last year’s 123,489 units.
However, the sales dip in August amid the implementation of the two-week enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila for the third time raised a red flag for the industry.
“The message of this bleak performance is worth noting: stricter lockdown strategy in response to curbing the Covid-19 pandemic affects the auto industry’s recovery this year,” Gutierrez said.
The Campi official said the general slowdown in economic activities and consumer spending was exacerbated by the implementation of ECQ in the capital region and nearby provinces.
In August, car manufacturers saw their sales slide by 11.5 percent to 15,847 units from last year’s 17,906 units; both the passenger car (PC) and commercial vehicle (CV) segments were down as well.
PC sales dropped by 10.3 percent to 4,894 units for the period from 5,454 units last year.
Sales for the CV segment, meanwhile, fell 12 percent to 10,953 units in August from the previous year’s 12,452 units.
From January to August, PC sales jumped by 53.1 percent to 54,402 units from last year’s 35,523 units.
CV sales for the eight-month period climbed to 115,710 units, showing a 31.5-percent increase from 87,966 units the previous year.
Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. maintained leadership in the market with a 48.43-percent market share. It sold 82,389 units in January to August, which is 56.9 percent more than the 52,525 units recorded last year.
Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. followed with a market share of 14.06 percent while Suzuki Phils. Inc. placed third 7.61 percent.