Motor vehicle sales decreased 4.7 percent in July versus sales in the previous month, June, but year-to-date sales grew 46.1 percent higher than the first 7-month sales last year, a joint report from the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI) and Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) showed.

According to the report, total sales for the month of July reached only 21,498 units from 22,550 units last month, June, with both passenger cars and commercial vehicle segments in the negative category. But the July 2021 sales grew by 4.7 percent when compared to the 20,542 unit sales in July last year.

Also, sales of passenger cars in July only reached 7,102 units or 3.79 percent lower from 7,382 units the previous month. But compared to the same month last year, the July 2021 sales performance grew by 15.3 percent.

Commercial vehicle sales also decreased by 5.1 percent to 14,396 units from 15,168 the previous month.

Under the commercial vehicle segment, sales of light commercial vehicles (LCVs) declined by 10.9 percent to 10,493 units from 11,774 units the previous month, June. The July LCV sales declined by a mere 0.5 percent when compared to July 2020 sales.

Likewise, sales of trucks and buses (Category IV) declined 7.6 percent with only 279 units sold from 302 units the previous month. It is also 7.9 percent lower than the 303 units sold in July 2020.

The categories that posted positive sales in July versus June include Asian utility vehicles (19.6 percent), light trucks or pick-ups (3 percent), and trucks and buses category V (8.5 percent).

Notably, the sales of trucks and buses (Category V) ended up negative 19.1 percent when compared to the 110 unit sales in July 2020. Also sales of light trucks or pick-ups posted 8.1 percent versus July 2020 sales of 444 units.

Worth mentioning is Suzuki Phils. Inc., which continued to hold on to its rank as the third largest player among the 23 car companies of CAMPI-TMA.

Suzuki sold a total of 11,635 units year-to-date with market share of 7.54 percent. Its January-July sales also showed a 56.4 percent increase when compared to 7,440 unit sales in the same first seven months of 2020.

Nonetheless, Toyota Motors Philippines Corp. continued to lead with 74,521 unit sales year-to-date followed by Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. with 22,504 units.

CAMPI President Rommel Gutierrez said that industry sales is expected to decline this month of August with the reimposition of enhanced community quarantine in the National Capital Region and other high risk areas.