Philippine automotive sales edged down 0.8 percent in 2025 as a sharp decline in passenger car demand offset steady gains in the commercial vehicle segment, industry data showed over the weekend.
Total industry sales reached 463,646 units in 2025 compared with 467,252 recorded in 2024, according to a joint report by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI) and the Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA).
The passenger car segment bore the brunt of the slowdown, with sales tumbling 23.1 percent to 92,924 units from 120,770 a year earlier. This drop reduced the passenger car market share to 20.04 percent from 25.85 percent.
Commercial vehicle sales provided a buffer for the industry, rising 7 percent year-on-year to 370,722 units and accounting for nearly 80 percent of total volume.
Growth was led by light commercial vehicles which posted 271,630 units, up 7.2 percent, while Asian utility and multi-purpose vehicles also grew 7.2 percent to 87,731 units.
Heavy-duty trucks and buses saw the highest growth rate at 20.5 percent with 888 units. Light-duty trucks rose 3.6 percent to 6,783 units, but medium-duty trucks bucked the trend by declining 7.1 percent to 3,690 units.
The market showed signs of a year-end recovery as December sales reached 42,870 units, a 14.9-percent increase from November and a 2-percent rise over December 2024.
Commercial vehicles drove the monthly performance with 34,861 units, up 16.7 percent from the previous month.
Electrified vehicle sales, or xEVs, gained traction throughout the year, totaling 32,489 units to represent 7.01 percent of the total market.
Hybrid electric vehicles dominated with 25,737 units, representing more than 79 percent of xEV sales. Battery electric vehicles followed with 4,613 units, while plug-in hybrids recorded 2,139 units.
December xEV sales climbed 13.6 percent to 4,358 units from 3,837 in November.
The report noted that xEV figures are based on the Department of Energy list of recognized electric vehicles as of Jan. 12, 2025.
