Sales of imported vehicles in the country jumped 55 percent in the first half of the year to 30,153 units from 19,509 in the same period last year when the lockdown was at its worse.
The Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors, Inc. (AVID) reported that it is not just the year to date performance that has been on the uptrend, but also the month on month and year on year sales.
Of total first half sales this year, the passenger cars segment improved by 26 percent to 7,707 units in 2021 from 6,128 units in the same first half of 2020. Year-on-year, the segment grew by 13 percent in June with 1,350 units sold as against 1,200 units last year. Suzuki keeps its top spot with 3,949 units sold, followed by Hyundai with 2,567 units sold.
The light commercial vehicle segment grow by 64 percent to 21,684 units from 13,244 units in the same first half of 2020 while the commercial vehicle sales was up 456 percent to 762 units from 137 units in the first semester in 2020.
The Commercial Vehicles (CV) segment continued to be AVID’s pillar of growth with total sales surging by 456 percent year to date.
Notably, Hyundai Asia Resources Inc. (HARI) steadily drove the segment as it sustained its support for the national Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP). The leading Korean brand tallied 759 units sold (YTD), far from the 137 units sold in the same period in 2020, and maintaining its prime spot as No. 1 in the bus segment and No. 4 in the trucks segment.
In June this year alone, AVID sales bested its 2020 sales by 33 percent with 4,936 units sold compared to last year’s 3,698 units. June sales also improved over those of May 2021, though by a hairline, from 4871 to 4,936 units sold.
“It has been an uphill struggle for the automotive industry, more so among importers, but the recent numbers are encouraging. As our nation progresses towards achieving herd immunity, the automotive industry has proven resilient and poised to emerge stronger than ever. With better prospects ahead, we will continue to give our best to ensure the complete recovery of the industry. This much, we owe the Filipino people,” said AVID President Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo.