Easing of quarantine and lockdown rules boost car and truck sales
MANILA – Car and truck sales rose as the government eased its community quarantine and lockdown restrictions last month.
In a joint report by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) and Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) showed total vehicle sales rose by 3,500% to 4,788 units last month from 133 units sold in April this year.
“We anticipated this increase coming from the lowest sales performance noted in April,” CAMPI President Atty. Rommel Gutierrez said in a statement.
He said while May figures are way below the industry’s monthly average sales performance, they welcome positive signs of recovery despite the pandemic. He further explained within the season of new normal where dealerships have resumed operations at a reduced level and stringent safety protocols are being implemented at all times.
The industry expects “a dampened consumer demand” for new cares in the months ahead because cars are considered big-ticket investments.
“But we hope to see some gradual recovery by fourth quarter of the year,” he said.
On a month-on-month, the industry sales fell by 84.6% from 30,998 units sold during the same period last year. However, on year-to-date figures, the industry sold 69,463 units, with a 51.1% decline compared with that of 2019. (Melo M. Acuña)
Common sight at EDSA during weekdays. (File Photo/Melo M. Acuna)