Motor vehicle sales by the country’s two major groups – Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) and Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) – declined by 24.6 percent in April this year, while sales of new energy vehicles (xEVs) also posted a slight 4.76 percent decrease compared to the previous month.
Based on the joint official report, CAMPI-TMA sold a total of 27,225 units last month, 24.6 percent lower compared to 36,104 units in March this year and 18.9 percent down compared to April 2025. Every vehicle category recorded negative growth in April.
The April performance also brought the year-to-date (Jan-April) sales to 132,867 units or 11.8 percent lower than the 150,654 units sold in the same first four months of 2025.
The two groups, however, estimated that the total industry, including sales outside CAMPI-TMA, point to roughly 32,400 units sold for April, which is still 17 percent lower compared to March this year, and 8 percent down versus the same month last year.
CAMPI President Jose Maria Atienza attributed the decline to a continuing slowdown from the second semester last year. “This was further affected by the oil crisis with customers carefully considering their car purchase,” said Atienza.
Of the 27,225 sales for April by CAMPI-TMA, commercial vehicles contributed 21,647 units or 25.8 percent lower than the 29,161 units sold in March. Passenger cars also slowed down by 19.66 percent with sales hitting only 5,578 units as against 6,943 units sold the previous month.
As all categories posted negative growth in April, medium-duty trucks and Asian utility vehicles recorded the steepest declines at 38.3 percent and 38.2 percent, respectively.
Of the 35-member firms, Toyota Motor Philippines still led the group with sales of 14,284 units in April, an 18.9 percent decline from 17,622 units in March this year. Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. remained second with 3,771 units sold, a steep 39.6 percent decrease from 6,239 units in March.
Suzuki Philippines finished third with 1,339 units or 21.0 percent lower than the 1,694 units sold the previous month.
In terms of xEVs, CAMPI-TMA data showed a total 5,855 units sold for April, or a slight 4.76 percent decrease from 6.148 units sold the previous month. The April sales brought total xEV sales in the first four months to 17,655 units for a strong 158.87 percent increase from 6,820 units sold in the same period last year.
Hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) accounted for 12,368 units sold or 115.3 percent more than the comparative January-April 2025 sales of only 8,744 units. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) followed with 2,579 units for a strong 2,531.6 percent increase from only 98 units in the first four months of 2025.
The battery electric vehicles (BEVs) or pure EVs contributed 2,708 units or 176.9 percent increase form only 978 units sold in the January-April period last year.
Tesla Motors Philippines, Inc. emerged as the number one brand for BEVs for April, but VinFast Auto Philippines Corp. grabbed market leadership in the first four months this year.
For PHEVs, Jetour Auto Phil. Inc. emerged as the number one brand for the January-April period, but Geely Motor Philippines Corp. led the category for April.
Toyota Motor is the leading brand for both year-to-date and April sales for the HEV category.
According to the report, HEVs comprised 70 percent of the CAMPI/TMA total xEV Sales, HEVs stood at 23 percent, and BEVs at 7 percent.
“The customers are very much aware of what’s practical during these times thus the increased demand for energy efficient vehicles like xEVs and lower displacement, fuel-efficient Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles,” said Atienza.
