Auto sales drop 11.9% in April, down 9.3% in first 4 months
VEHICLE SALES in April fell nearly 12% year on year, the fourth consecutive month that unit shipments have declined, automakers said.
In a joint report, the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. and the Truck Manufacturers Association said member companies sold 25,583 units in April — down 11.9% from a year earlier and down 9.3% from March.
The declines follow the imposition a higher excise tax on automobiles at the start of 2018, which led car buyers to push up their purchases in late 2017 before the tax kicked in.
In the first four months of the year, the automakers sold 111,620 units, down 9.3% year on year.
Light commercial vehicles (LCV) accounted for 11,045 units sold in April, down 9.7% from a year earlier and 9.3% from March.
The broader commercial vehicle category, which includes LCVs, accounted for 15,673 units, down 18.3% from a year earlier and 9.4% from March.
Car sales totaled 9,910 units in April, up 0.5% from a year earlier and down 9.3% from March.
Sales of Asian utility vehicles ( AUVs), also a sub- category of commercial vehicles, fell 41.5% year- on- year and 11.8% from March to 3,439 units.
In the four months to April, sales of LCVs totaled 49,974 units. The broader commercial vehicle category, which includes LCVs, saw sales of 72,803 units while sales of cars totaled 38,817 units.
Toyota Motors Philippines Corp. continued to lead in market share at 42.38% in the year to date. It was followed by Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. with a share of 19.78% and Ford Motor Co. Philippines, Inc. with 7.42%.
Rounding up the top five are Honda Car Philippines, Inc. and Nissan Philippines, Inc. with shares of 7.27% and 7.04%, respectively. —