Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. celebrates a new milestone after achieving an all-time high hatchback sales record with the introduction of the second generation Honda Jazz. After its successful premiere during the 2nd Philippine International Motor Show, the new Jazz generates a total of 394 unit sales in October basing from the report recently released by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI). This is not only the highest monthly sales performance of the Jazz since its local introduction in 2004. More importantly, 394 units mark the highest monthly hatchback sales throughout the entire Philippine automotive industry history.

The entry of the Jazz triggered the emergence of the hatchback market, foreseeing the demand for smaller and fuel efficient vehicles. From 4% in year 2004, the hatchback market ballooned to 17% of the car segment by the end of 2007. Today, the Jazz continues to make new records to fortify the presence of hatchbacks in the motoring industry.

Being in the market in less than two months, the new Jazz already registers cumulative sales of almost 600 units. The public’s warm reception on the Jazz helps boost Honda’s performance in the passenger car (PC) segment by 9% with 1,123 PC units sold in October (as compared with 1,027 passenger car unit sales in September). This puts Honda in a stronger position with 29% market share.

The all-new Jazz officially commenced sales in September, a month after its debut in the local market. Touted as the country’s Fun Utility Vehicle or F.U.V., the new Jazz presents dynamic and refreshing features that surely bring pure fun and excitement in one’s driving experience. On its first month, a total of 203 unit sales were initially posted as customers eagerly awaited the release of the Jazz. This is even higher than the initial 145 unit sales of the first generation Jazz back in 2004. Attesting the Jazz craze in the market, record shows that a total of 162 units were remarkably released in just one day. Ordinarily, releases only average to 15 units per day.

A recipient of the prestigious 2008 Japan Car of the Year Award, the All-New Honda Jazz has been widely acclaimed for its dynamic styling, spacious interiors, versatile utility and remarkable fuel economy. Now powered with the renowned i-VTEC engine, the Honda Jazz realizes more spirited driving while maintaining its outstanding fuel economy to deliver more fun-filled driving to every liter of gasoline.

The All-New Jazz is readily available at any Honda dealership near you. Schedule a testdrive and get first-hand experience of its advanced and innovative features. Discover what the craze is all about.

Despite the financial tsunami that nearly wiped out Wall Street and the subsequent crosscurrents it created that had thrown big and small economies in disarray, the Philippines included, Kia has defiantly cruised to its 10-month steady ascent to the top of the sales charts.

Columbian Autocar Corp., distributor of Kia in the Philippines, recorded a convincing 63-percent sales growth in the last 10 months, the highest in the industry, and laid claim to being the fastest-growing automotive brand in the country today.

Kia vehicle sales grew by 63 percent from January to October, according to data from the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Phils. Inc. Kia was followed by Nissan which posted a 37.2-percent growth and Hyundai at 34.4 percent, rounding off the top three. General Motors took the fourth spot at 24.5 percent, tailed by Mitsubishi at 19.7 percent, while Audi got the sixth spot at 18.3 percent, followed by Suzuki at 14.9 percent. The eighth spot went to Isuzu at 7.0 percent with Mazda on the ninth spot at 6.5 percent. Toyota and Ford tied the tenth spot at 6.1-percent growth.

Felix Mabilog Jr., CAC president and chief operating officer, attributed Kia’s impressive growth to the aggressive sales effort of the expanded Kia dealership network with more than 50 dealers nationwide.

“People now perceive Korean cars, especially Kia, to be a wise and practical choice. This is especially true today because car buyers are wary of buying expensive cars due to the unstable economic climate. Apart from opting for inexpensive and fuel- efficient cars, they also give high marks for value for money. We have used these advantages with our wider product line offering and continuous promotional efforts,” Mabilog says.

Kia’s sales performance in the first 10 months of the year reflects the local auto industry’s upbeat outlook despite the US recession and the fluctuating cost of fuel.

Within the Kia global distribution network, CAC’s performance in the Philippines also received rave notice. CAC has recently been named to Kia’s elite Zenith Club, a distinguished and highly esteemed group whose membership is limited only to winners of Kia Distributor of the Year distinction. CAC was the recipient of this award for the Asia Pacific Region in May this year. The award recognized Columbian Autocar Corp.’s “outstanding contributions and excellence of the highest degree as one of Kia Motor’s top distributors in 2008.”

The Zenith Club Award was presented Mabilog by Euisun Chung, president of Kia Motors Corp. CAC joined 14 other fellow awardees that included distributors from Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Sweden, United Kingdom, Ukraine, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Algeria, Morocco, Syria and the United Arab Emirates.

CAC distributes and markets locally the Kia Sorento, Carnival, Sportage, Carens, Rio, Picanto for the passenger car segment and the K2700 for the light commercial vehicle.

Philippine Auto Sales Up 14.8% in 4 Months

The auto industry recorded a 14.8-percent sales increase during the first four months of this year due to a continued strong demand for commercial vehicles.

“The Philippine auto industry thus far, is bucking the general trend seen in other countries such as the US, where rising fuel prices coupled with a softening economy resulted in a downward trend in commercial vehicle sales,” Elizabeth H. Lee, president of the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines (CAMPI) said.

From January to April, auto sales reached 39,981 units of which 11,078 units were sold in April alone.

Commercial vehicles continue to dominate the local market covering 66 percent of total vehicle sales nationwide.

During the four-month period, sales of commercial vehicles went up by 16.2 percent due to a sustained growth in demand for pickup trucks, vans and compact SUVs.

Sales of light commercial vehicles went up to 14,996 during the four-month period.

“Such increase is attributed to the shift in consumers’ preference to diesel-fed models brought about by the increase in fuel price. We expect sales to continue rising in the coming months,” Lee said.

On the other hand, sales of passenger cars went down by 1.4 percent to only 3,691 units.

Despite the downturn in passenger car sales, Lee said industry outlook remains positive as auto players continue to support sales with dealer incentives promos.

Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. remains the number one seller, capturing 35.4 percent of total market.

Far second was Mitsubishi Motors Philippines with a 13.4-percent share followed closely by Honda Cars Philippines Inc. with 13.2 percent.

The industry projects continued strong growth in this segment with value-for-money conscious buyers given current, temporary economic conditions

“We forecast sales to continue to be strong in the coming months. Strong sales of pickup trucks, vans, and c-wagon vehicles sustain the momentum of this segment,” Lee said.

By Ma. Elisa P. Osorio, Philippine Star Source

Philippine Vehicle Car Sales Jump 14.3% in Jan-Feb 2008

The auto industry continued to post strong sales figures this year as it chalked up double-digit growth in the first two months.

A joint report by the Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) and the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines (CAMPI) showed that their combined January and February sales went up 14.3 percent compared with the same period a year ago.

“Continued growth is still expected in the coming months amidst political noise tempered by relatively stable economic numbers coupled with the strength of the peso,” Elizabeth H. Lee, CAMPI president, said in a statement.

For the month of February alone, the industry sold a total of 9,472 motor vehicle units, with commercial vehicles still dominating sales.

Commercial vehicle sales made up 68 percent of sales while passenger cars accounted for the remaining 32 percent.

CAMPI and TMA pointed out that the popularity of using vehicles in business is catching on with sales of pickups, vans and Asian utility vehicles (AUV) growing at a faster pace.

Lee noted, however, that passenger car sales increased 19 percent in February and is expected to get bigger in the coming months.

She attributed the robust growth to promotional activities of dealers and rapid sales of new models introduced last year.

In February, Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. still occupied the biggest share of total auto sales with a 39.54-percent market share. In far second was Honda Cars Philippines Inc. with a 13.04-percent share while Mitsubishi Motors Philippines placed third with 12.98 percent.

Meanwhile, commercial vehicle sales for February increased by 12 percent to fuel another good start for the largest category in the market.

Lee said new models introduced last year boosted sales for February with total sales of 6,349 units or an 8.6 percent growth compared to January.

“We forecast sales to continue to be strong in the coming months. Strong sales of pickup trucks, vans and c-wagon vehicles sustain the momentum of this segment,” she noted.

By Ma. Elisa P. Osorio

Automotive Car Sales Surged 17% in January 2008

he local automotive industry sold a total of 8,808 units in January, up 17 percent year-on-year from 7,520 units.

“It is a good showing for the industry to jump-start the year with a strong growth. We forecast sales to continue to be strong in the coming months,” said Elizabeth Lee, president of the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc., in a report.

Official data from Campi showed that passenger car sales grew 28.5 percent last month on year those of while commercial vehicles climbed 12 percent.

Commercial vehicles, however, continue to dominate sales with a market share of almost 70 percent.

Lee said January sales against the December level fell due to seasonality. December sales usually has the highest monthly registered figure because of increased holiday spending.

She said sales in the passenger car segment were expected to remain robust in the coming months. Lee said the strong interest in new car models introduced last year translated into higher sales last month.

Car sales in January hit 2,964 units, up 28 percent from 2,307 units in January last year.

Commercial vehicles dominated sales with a double-digit growth of 12 percent, a good start for the largest category in the market. A total of 5,844 units were sold in this category against 5,213 units in the same period last year.

Toyota Motors Philippines Corp. continued to dominate the market with a total of 3,001 units sold, translating into a market share of 34 percent.

Honda Cars Philippines Inc. followed at the second spot with 1,476 units sold and a corresponding market share of 16.76 percent.

At third was Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. with 1,144 units and a market share of 12.99 percent.

Korean car maker Hyundai Asia Resources Inc. sold 776 units for a market share of 8.81 percent.

Ford Motor Co. Philippines Inc. rounded up the list of five top car makers in terms of sales with 600 units sold in January and a market share of 6.81 percent.

Sales of Asian utility vehicles declined by 35.8 percent mainly due to seasonality.

Isuzu Car Sales Up By 20% in 2007

In 2007, Isuzu Philippines Corp. continued to be a strong force to be reckoned with in the commercial vehicles (CV) segment, as it improved its sales tally in 2007 by 20 percent from the previous year, according to official sales figures released by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. and the Truck Manufacturers’ Association of the Philippines. In particular, Isuzu’s light- to heavy-duty trucks continued to lord it over the field, making Isuzu the clear choice for Filipino companies when it comes to business and industrial vehicles.

According to the combined 2007 CAMPI-TMA sales report, Isuzu’s light-duty trucks dominated Category 3, selling a total of 1,101 units for a 58.7-percent share of the market. This marks the 10th consecutive year that the Isuzu N-Series has topped its class. In Category 4, the Isuzu F-Series medium-duty truck sold 229 units, accounting for an overwhelming 78.4 percent of the market. In Category 5 (18 tons and up), Isuzu’s heavy-duty truck was likewise dominant as it cornered 60 percent of its market.

Meanwhile, Isuzu’s passenger commercial vehicles also enjoyed a fruitful year in 2007. The Crosswind AUV—buoyed by the market’s unwavering confidence in its reputation as a reliable workhorse and comfortable family vehicle that offers good value for money—sold 5,386 units last year, a substantial 14-percent increase from its 4,718-unit tally in 2006. The D-Max pickup—thanks to the introduction of the Global D-Max that features the new 4JJI common-rail diesel engine—enjoyed a very good year as it sold 2,143 units, a remarkable 59-percent increase from its 2006 total of 1,346 units.

Due to this solid sales performance, Isuzu’s overall sales in 2007 amounted to 9,770 units, or 13 percent of the total CV market. This represents an impressive 20-percent increase compared to Isuzu’s total sales of 8,144 units in 2006. The phenomenal sales increase is the highest in the company’s 10-year history in the country, and is in fact, even higher than the total sales growth of the whole local auto industry last year.

IPC president Keiji Takeda attributes this sales success to “Isuzu’s strong brand image and proven status as a leader in diesel-engine technology.” He adds that although IPC has a specialized product lineup—commercial vehicles only—Isuzu still managed to increase and capture a sizeable market share, thanks to the company’s reputation as a maker of durable, reliable, fuel-efficient and environment-friendly vehicles. “The year 2007 was indeed very special for us as we also commemorated our 10th inaugural anniversary and achieved our 100,000th vehicle unit in both production and sales.”

For 2008, Isuzu has set its sight on continuously strengthening its existing CV product line. One thing going for IPC is its firm grasp of the needs and wants of discriminating Filipino motorists. The company continues to invest in extensive market research just to determine the vehicle features that prove to be truly valuable and indispensable to Filipino consumers.

“Our valued customers can be rest assured that we will continue our efforts to develop and supply leading-edge products from a global standpoint,” declares IPC president Takeda. “We will utilize our strengths as a top-class automaker so we may continue to contribute to the well-being of the environment and the economy.”

I am a 22 year old college graduate of computer engineering. Graduated in one of the best engineering school in the country. With friends in the mechanical engineering field in the Philippines, yet, I don;t know how to drive.

Ok, before I start to kill you from laughing I know that it sucks. But I don’t think there is a good reason why I should own a car. For one, I like commuting, I get to see hot chicks on the MRT, talk to them and if fortunate enough, get their numbers. And best of all, its exercise. Ok, nagbibiro lang ako kase wala talaga pambili ng kotse.

Kidding aside, the Philippines, especially Manila, is very crowded, I never imagine myself driving a car and just burning the fuel while waiting for the traffic to move. I know it sounds stupid but I hope you get the point. It would be much more costly if I buy a car.

I’ll get a car loan, be in debt, pay for maintenance. pay for gas and all. I know not all of you are like that as you can easily get your mom or dad’s blessing and they will buy you a new one. The point is, not every Filipino can afford a car.

Now that the bad side has been laid out, lets look on the good site of having a car.

First of all, convenience how. How cool is it to go anywhere, anytime with your car. Places that a bus can’t go, the MRT can go, or pedicab can go. And most importantly, if you have a decent car, most people will go “WOW CHEDENG” or be amazed at how your car is well groomed. Sounds familiar?

Second, pogi points. Yep… This is the best chick magnet for all the kiddos out there. Why do you think girls like those with wheels?

On to the business side of things

Did you know that the car sales in the Philippines since 2006 has increased by 18%. That’s already a whopping percentage. And a lot of cars!

As you can see. The Philippines have it second to the most sales when it comes to cars. The top sales would be appliances and then the car sales second.

Can you imagine? A lot of cars sold in the Philippines and a lot of cars on the streets! That would make it even more practical to NOT purchase a car. :P.

But the fact is, I will let you all decide. Whether you need it for work or you can cover the gas and maintenance expenses go for it. In the long run, what is more convenient for you would be the best way to go. Either to own a car in the Philippines or not.