The Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI) and Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) reported Thursday that it started the year with a 10.4 percent increase in sales.

A joint report of CAMPI and TMA showed the industry groups sold a total of 37,604 units last month from 34,060 units sold in January 2024.

This was driven by the 16.6-percent growth in sales of commercial vehicles, which accounted for 79 percent of the total sales in January.

The segment sold a total of 29,875 units in the previous month, higher than the 25,614 units sold in the past 12 months.

Sales of passenger cars declined by 8.5 percent to 7,729 units in January 2025 from 8,446 units sold in January 2024.

In a statement, CAMPI president Rommel Gutierrez said the local automotive industry will try to hit the 500,000 unit sales again this year after falling short of reaching this mark last year.

The industry posted its record sales in 2024 at 467,252 units, but below its target of 468,300 to 500,000 units.

“CAMPI is confident in setting the aspirational figure of 500,000 units sale as its target for this year. Newly rolled out models and anticipated introduction of new models are some of the factors that will contribute to achieving this target,” Gutierrez said.

Early this week, Special Assistant to the President for Investments and Economic Affairs Secretary Frederick Go said the government is preparing another program akin to the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy program.

Through the proposed Revitalizing the Automotive Industry for Competitiveness Enhancement (RACE) program, a maximum incentive of P3 billion will be given for each enrolled car model producing 100,000 units in the country. 

PNA PHOTO