Motorcycles continue to be the transportation of choice for many Filipinos, with the country welcoming nearly a million and a half new motorcycles from January to September.

The Motorcycle Development Program Participants Association Inc. (MDPPA) said 1.40 million motorcycle units were sold in the first nine months of the year, up 13 percent from 1.24 million units in the same period in 2024.

For the month of September alone, motorcycle sales rose 21 percent to 171,155 units from 141,202 sold in the month last year.

MDPPA, the country’s leading group of motorcycle manufacturers and assemblers, stated that the continued growth in sales reflects how the two-wheeled vehicle remains a practical choice for commuters.

MDPPA Marketing Committee Chairperson Toni Boi Acuesta said among the key factors behind the popularity of motorcycles is that they allow riders to swiftly breeze through traffic for a more convenient travel.

“They offer an affordable means of personal mobility, especially at a time when economic uncertainties have placed pressure on household budgets,” said Acuesta.

“Their fuel efficiency and low maintenance costs also make them ideal for daily use,” he added.

The MDPPA did not provide any data on the most popular motorcycle type last month.

However, in August, the group reported that automatic motorcycles were the top choice among buyers, with sales reaching 106,382 units.

In terms of regional distribution, the MDPPA said Luzon accounted for more than half of the overall sales, with 95,712 units sold.

The Visayas and Mindanao each contributed around 22 percent, with 37,675 and 37,768 units sold, respectively.

Based on the latest data provided by the MDPPA to the Federation of Asian Motorcycle Industries (FAMI), local production of motorcycles reached 983,623 by the end of August.

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

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

This suggests that the shortfall between local production and total sales is likely being met by imports from competing Chinese and Taiwanese brands.

MDPPA President Alexander Cumpas said the industry group is positive about the continued growth in the fourth quarter, which coincides with the holiday season.

“As 2025 enters its final quarter, all signs point to a strong finish for the motorcycle industry, reaffirming its role as a vital part of the country's transportation landscape,” said Cumpas.

The group is projecting to hit record sales this year, to hit 1.77 million units, or five percent higher than last year’s sales of 1.68 million units.

The last time the local motorcycle industry reached 1.7 million sales was in 2019, MDPPA’s record year so far.

Among FAMI’s seven member associations, Indonesia remained at the top with 4.84 million motorcycles sold by the end of September.

Vietnam, which releases data quarterly, ranked second with 1.28 million units. It is followed by the Philippines in third place.

Malaysia logged 422,800 motorcycle sales, followed by Japan with 260,203 units during the nine-month period.

FAMI members Thailand and Taiwan have not yet released any data this year.