Sales of imported autos rebound in Feb.

Sales of imported vehicles rebounded in the second month this year with a slight 3 percent increase versus performance in January 2021 on robust growth from the passenger car segment, the Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors, Inc. (AVID) reported Monday, (March 22).

According to the AVID data, sales in February reached 5,401 units versus the 5,262 units sold in January 2021. 

Of the February sales, passenger cars increased by 12 percent to 1,518 units from 1,350 units in January. Suzuki Philippines Inc. sold the most number of cars with 706 units followed by Hyundai Asia Resources Inc. with 567 units sold. 

Notably, sales of light commercial vehicles (LCV) declined by 2 percent to 3,728 units as against 3,794 units in the previous month. 

However, year-to-date, AVID sales slumped by 10.3 percent with 10,663 units versus the 11,890 units reported in the same period last year before the pandemic struck. Year-to-date, sales of passenger cars also dropped 19 percent from 3,540 units sold in 2020 to 2,868 units in the first two months of 2021. 

SPI emerged as the top performer with 1,334 units followed by HARI with 1,095 units sold since the start of the year.

In the LCV segment, AVID recorded a 9 percent dip from 8,264 units sold in February 2020 to 7,522 units sold in 2021.  In February alone, sales slightly dipped by 2% with 3,728 units sold versus the 3,794 units sold in January."

Ford continues to lead this segment with 3,228 units sold. Suzuki holds second place with 1,735 units, closely followed by Hyundai with 1,322 units sold.

In the Commercial Vehicles (CV) segment, Hyundai reported a whopping 217% growth, year-to-date, with 273 units sold in 2021 versus the 86 units sold in 2020. In February alone, sales rose by 31% with 155 units sold versus the 118 units sold the previous month.

 “AVID ended 2020 on a high note. And while we acknowledge that recovery will not come quickly, we remain focused on taking ‘baby steps’ at all fronts of our respective businesses and count on Government to heed our call for a more comprehensive, long-term approach to reopening the economy by creating more job opportunities, upgrading infrastructure and logistics, and improving the ease and cost of doing business,” said AVID President Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo.