Philippine roads have welcomed over one million new motorcycles from January to August, as demand continues to grow among Filipinos seeking the most affordable transport option to beat heavy traffic.

The latest data from the Motorcycle Development Program Participants Association Inc. (MDPPA) showed that 1.23 million motorcycle units were sold in the first eight months of the year, 12-percent higher than the 1.1 million units during the same period in 2024.

The demand has been on such an upward trend that the so-called “ghost month,” which usually coincides with people avoiding big purchases, did not make any dent in August sales.

For the month, motorcycle sales grew 18 percent to 158,228 units from 133,689 units in the same month last year.

MDPPA said the sustained sales growth so far this year is largely attributed to the sustained demand for motorcycles in the country.

The industry group said Filipinos continue to turn to motorcycles as a “practical and affordable mobility solution, especially for navigating increasingly congested roads.”

According to MDPPA, automatic motorcycles remain the top choice among buyers, with August sales reaching 106,382 units, up 25 percent from 85,212 units last year.

Business motorcycles, or those that are used for commercial and transportation purposes such as tricycles, rose 14 percent from 23,080 units to 26,399 units.

Mopeds likewise posted a three-percent uptick to 21,805 units, compared to last year’s 21,177 units.

Based on MDPPA data, motorcycles such as street models, big bikes, off-road, three-wheeler, and electric had combined sales of 3,642 units in August, down 14 percent from 4,220 last year.

MDPPA president Alexander Cumpas noted that despite a decline in one segment, the industry remains in a “healthy position” to continue growing.

“We are confident that the broad appeal of motorcycles will continue to drive demand moving forward,” said Cumpas.

“This positive growth trajectory is a testament to the enduring relevance and growing importance of motorcycles in the everyday lives of Filipinos, underscoring a resilient and evolving industry,” he added.

Based on the latest data from the Federation of Asian Motorcycle Industries (FAMI), which was sourced directly from MDPPA, domestic production of motorcycles reached 983,623 by the end of August.

Motorcycle output during the first eight months saw a 10-percent increase from last year’s 893,293.

MDPPA’s data are sourced from the local subsidiaries of four major Japanese motorcycle brands—Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha—along with Indian brand TVS.

Together, these brands account for approximately 80 to 90 percent of domestic motorcycle sales and production.

As such, the gap between domestic manufacturing and sales is likely filled by imports from competing Chinese and Taiwanese brands.

MDPPA expects sales to ramp up within the last four months of the year, fueled by “strong consumer demand, expanding delivery and mobility services, and the appeal of motorcycles as a practical mobility option.”

The group is projecting record sales this year, reaching up to 1.77 million units or five-percent higher than last year’s sales.

The local motorcycle industry’s banner year was in 2019, when it sold a total of 1.7 million units.

Among FAMI’s seven member associations, Indonesia continued to dominate with 4.27 million motorcycles sold in the first eight months of 2025.

Vietnam, which releases its sales data quarterly, ranked second with 1.28 million units. The Philippines inched closer at third place.

Malaysia logged 380,675 motorcycle sales, followed by Japan with 260,203 units sold by the end of September.

FAMI members Thailand and Taiwan have yet to release any data this year.