MANILA -- Sales on most classes of automotive vehicles was on the decline in April this year, the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) and Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) reported Tuesday.
Joint CAMPI and TMA data showed that vehicle sales in April 2018 decreased by 11.9 percent to 25,583 units from 29,038 units in the same period a year ago.
This is after commercial vehicle sales, which account for 61 percent of the industry sales last month, contracted its sales by 18.3 percent to 15,673 units from 19,176 units in April last year.
Under this segment, sales of light commercial vehicles fell by 9.7 percent to 11,045 units in April 2018 from 12,237 units of the previous year.
Higher decrement in sales was registered by Asian utility vehicles, which declined by 41.5 percent to 3,439 units in April this year compared to its 5,878 units sales a year ago.
Sales of light trucks slightly slipped by 0.5 percent to 580 units last month from 583 units a year ago.
On the other hand, increments were recorded in sales of trucks and buses categories four and five growing by 21.4 percent and 45.4 percent, respectively.
Meanwhile, four-month sales of the industry likewise declined by 9.3 percent with sales reaching 111,620 units this year, lower than the same period in 2017 of 123,064 unit sales.
Passenger car segments recorded a 7.2-percent drop in sales, while a 10.4-percent decrement in sales was registered in commercial vehicle segments.
The most preferred brands in the January to April period based on sales figures are Toyota, Mitsubishi, Ford, Honda, and Nissan.
The notable drop in motor vehicle sales was partly attributed to the imposition of higher excise tax rates on automobiles implemented at the start of the year. (PNA)
