Sales of imported motor vehicles delivered by the Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors increased 6 percent in the first half to 48,348 units from 45,470 units it sold in the same period last year.
“Avid delivered 48,348 vehicles nationwide for the first semester of the year, improving 6 percent from the same period in 2016. To sustain this positive trend, Avid will continue on its quest to innovate its products and services in response to the ever-changing customer needs,” said Avid president Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo.
The group said on a quarter-on-quarter basis, sales closed the second quarter with 25,031 units, up 7.35 percent from 23,317 units in the first quarter.
The continued growth in sales was a testament to the burgeoning demand for imported vehicles in the Philippines, said Agudo.
The passenger car segment saw a 13-percent increase to 18,773 units in the first half from 16,644 units a year ago.
Hyundai, holding the lion’s share of the segment, sold 12,039 units or 64 percent of total Avid passenger car unit sales in the first half.
Demand was also upbeat for light commercial vehicles which grew 6.3 percent to 48,348 units in the six-month period from 45,470 units a year earlier.
Ford led the volume in this segment with 16,209 units sold.
Agudo said the positive feedback from financial institutions and the manageable inflation level would sustain strong demand for automobiles.
The automotive industry is optimistic that 2017 sales will hit 450,000 vehicles, including those sold by other industry groups.
