Car and truck sales down due to lockdown

Vehicle sales down 63% in March 2020

MANILA – The Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) and the Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) reported vehicle sales for March 2020 reached 11,029 units which represents a negative growth of 63% from the 29,790 units sold in February this year.

CAMPI President Atty. Rommel Gutierrez said that the double-digit negative growth recovered in March 2020 is the weakest monthly performance of the industry’s history.

He attributed the significant decrease in sales to the shutdown of dealerships in the second half of March during the government’s enhanced community quarantine (EQC) placed over Luzon to thwart the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.

“The impact of COVID-19 pandemic can already be felt as early as March. We will continue to assess further effect of community quarantine continues to be in place,” he said in a statement released Friday afternoon.

He described the situation as “challenging” but industry players remain hopeful “for the containment of the virus at the soonest possible time while being resilient amid this crisis.”

Meanwhile, the industry also posted a double-digit negative growth of 65.7% from the 32,173 units sold in the same period last year. Year-to-date, the industry sold 64,542 units, a 24.4% decline compared with that of 2019. (Melo M. Acuña)

Toyota Motor Philippines' Albay dealership. The dealership recently opened its doors to Bicolano clients. (Photo from Toyota-Albay.ph)