The Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors Inc. said Tuesday sales by member companies increased 8.9 percent in the first quarter to 15,857 units from 14,554 vehicles in the same period last year on low base effect caused by the first quarantine lockdown.
Data showed sales in March jumped 95 percent to 5,193 units from 2,663 units sold a year ago.
Passenger car sales in the first three months fell 7 percent to 4,241 units from 4,567 units a year earlier, while demand for light commercial vehicle sales increased 13 percent to 11,198 units from 9,895 units.
“The slow uptick of PC is a result of continued low consumer confidence. But let us not discount the commendable performances of LCV and CV, and the hardworking teams that drive them. We see these two segments as our industry’s lifesavers as they lend indispensable support to the country’s revitalized infrastructure development programs,” said AVID president Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo.
Suzuki Philippines Inc. sold 2,067 units of passenger cars, followed by Hyundai Asia Resources Inc. with 1,484 units.
Ford Motor Company Philippines was the top contributor in the light commercial vehicle segment with 4,786 units, followed by Suzuki with 2,628 units and Hyundai with 1,780 units.
AVID said that on a month-on-month basis, vehicle sales went down by 4 percent to 5,193 units in March from 5,491 units in February.
Passenger car sales in March declined by 10 percent to 1,372 from 1,518 units in February while sales of light commercial vehicle sales slightly went down by 1 percent to 3,676 from 3,728 units. Meanwhile, sales of commercial vehicles dropped 6 percent to 145 from 155 units.
