MANILA– The Chamber of the Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) reported a 51 percent increase in car sales in January and expressed confidence it would meet its target of 200,000 for 2013.

”While January has traditionally been a slow month following the usual December car buying spree, the January 2013 performance can only be seen as another indication of the overall healthy economic performance of the country,” CAMPI President Rommel Gutierrez said.

Meeting the demand of a growing market, sales for the month coming from the combined figures of CAMPI-Trucks Manufacturers Association of the Philippines’ members reached 12,256 units compared 8,127 units sold during the same period last year, Gutierrez explained.

Industry data showed that the passenger car segment led last year’s opening sales with a 98 percent growth from 2,099 units in January 2012 to 4,161 units in January 2013. Share of passenger cars also increased from 26 percent of total January 2012 sales to 34 percent of last month’s sales.

The commercial vehicle sector which accounts for 66 percent of total sales also registered a 34 percent increase as sales reached 8,095 units compared to 6,028 units sold during the same month last year.

For the month of January, Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation led the pack with a share of 38 percent, followed by Mitsubishi Motors Philippines with 23 percent, Honda Cars Philippines with 11 percent, Isuzu Philippines Corporation with 6.8 percent, and Ford Philippines with 6.7 percent.* PNA