Vehicle importers reported a 9-percent increase in month-on-month sales to 6,130 units in October from 5,594 units in September.
The Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors said the industry was on a solid path to recovery as sales were in an uptrend from the lockdown months.
“We are off to a good start in the last quarter of the year and we aim to continue this revival. Businesses are reopening and travel and tourism are resuming. These activities require mobility and a strong and healthy auto industry will set the course for economic recovery,” said AVID president Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo.
Sales of passenger car sales fell 10 percent to 1,791 units in October from 1,990 units in September, but this was offset by a 20-percent hike light commercial vehicles to 4,291 units from 3,574 units.
Commercial vehicle sales climbed 27 percent to 38 units from 30 units in the previous month.
AVID attributed the growth to restored consumer confidence with the gradual reopening of the economy, the easing of travel restrictions and value-added promotions and services.
The group said total sales from January to October were still down by 42.6 percent to 40,993 units from 71,362 units in the same period last year.
Passenger car sales dropped 45 percent in the 10-month period to 13,523 units from 25,200 units a year ago. Light commercial vehicles also fell by 40.1 percent to 27,280 from 45,434 units while commercial vehicles sales plunged 64 percent to 261 units from 728 units.
“I believe the auto industry was quick to adapt to this new normal. So now you can buy a car online, have it delivered to you without face-to-face contact and do contactless pickups and drop-offs at service locations for your after sales needs. The industry has come a long way in such a short time and this has been a boon to consumers,” Agudo said.
