Manila Standard Today reported that Philippine car sales dropped 4% YoY in 2011 to 141,616 units from 147,488 a year ago, the first time in seven years or since 2004, after natural disasters in Japan and Thailand cut down automotive supplies.

The Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc said that supply woes caused by the recent floods in Thailand and the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan led to lower vehicle production in 2011.

Sales in December 2011 shrank 24.5% YoY to 10,374 units from 13,749 a year ago, the biggest month decline in 2011. The December figure eclipsed the 16.2% drop in July 2011 when most of the car manufacturers were on an irregular mode of operations in the aftermath of the destructive twin disasters in Japan.

CAMPI deferred the announcement of a growth target for 2012 due to the uncertainty of the current situation. The group in January 2011 had expected sales to grow by 4% to 5%.

Mr Homer Maranan secretary general of CAMPI said that "We have scheduled a meeting for the discussion of the growth forecast for this year."

Sales of passenger cars in December 2011 dipped by 31.5% YoY to 3,073 from 4,487 a year ago while full year sales decreased by 8% YoY to 44,862 from 48,739 in 2010. Sales of commercial vehicles declined by 21.2% YoY to 7,301 units from 9,262 in December 2010 due to supply limitations. Full year sales declined by 2% YoY to 96,754 from 98,749 a year ago.

Those of Asian utility vehicles in December 2011 decreased by 21.8% YoY to 2,816 from 3,603 on year. Full year sales also dipped by 2.5% YoY to 35,851 from 36,783 on year. Sales of light commercial vehicles fell 11.3% in December to 4,210 from 4,748 a year ago, while full year sales decreased 1.7% to 57,962 units from 58,956 on year.

Sales of market leader Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation sank 29.2% in December to 3,983 units from 5,623 for the same month last year. Full year sales fell 4% to 54,593 from 56,855 a year ago for a market share of 38.55%.

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation sold 2,428 units in December 2011, down by 21% from 3,085 a year ago. Its full year sales were nearly flat at 32,603 units from 32,422 a year ago for a market share of 23%.

Sales of Ford Motor Co Philippines Inc jumped 17.8% in December 2012 to 1,263 units from 1,072 a year ago. Full year sales increased by 32.5% YoY to 12,916 from 9,751 on year, to corner 9.12% of the market.

(Sourced from www.manilastandardtoday.com)