THE local automotive industry posted record sales last year, automakers claimed, overcoming a second-half slowdown blamed on higher taxes and the impact of natural disasters.
The Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (Campi) and the Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) said that based on their sales figures and other available industry data, total vehicle sales hit 491,395 units, up 3.7 percent from the previous peak of 473,842 in 2024.
Of this, 463,646 units sold came from Campi and TMA members, lower than the 2024 result of 467,252. Campi had targeted sales of 500,000 units for 2025.
“The industry delivered a modest growth last year due to the overall unfavorable market environment during the second half caused by a number of factors such as the reimposition of excise tax on pick-up trucks and several natural calamities experienced across the country,” Campi said in a statement.
Campi President Jose Maria Atienza said the overall gain was due to aggressive promotions and new vehicle launches that had expanded customer options in the electric vehicle and commercial vehicle segments.
Electric vehicles sold totaled 58,905 units — 32,489 for Campi-TMA members — and expanded their market share to 12.0 percent from just 5.5 percent in 2024. Battery electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid electric sales were said to have grown by 142.5 percent year on year, which Atienza said highlighted growing acceptance and demand.
Overall Campi-TMA sales grew by 2.0 percent year on year to 42,870 units in December alone, with an 8.6-percent rise to 34,861 units for the bread-and-butter commercial vehicle segment overcoming a 20.9-percent passenger car plunge to 8,009 units.
The full-year tally was still 0.8 percent down from 2024 as the 7.0-percent commercial vehicle gain to 370,722 units was not enough to offset the 23.1-percent decline to 92,024 for passenger cars.
Electrified vehicle sales rose by 13.6 percent month-on-month to 4,358 units and the year’s 32,489 total for Campi-TMA members gave the segment 7.01 percent of the market held by the two industry groups.
Comparable 2024 figures were not available as Campi only started reporting electric vehicle sales last year.
Toyota Motor Philippines Corp., meanwhile, was again the industry leader, having sold 229,4347 units, up 5.2 percent. This allowed the automaker to boost its share of the market to nearly 50 percent, or 49.49 percent, from 46.66 percent in 2024.
Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. remained second with 2025 sales of 86,808 units, a 2.6-percent decrease that saw its market share slip to 18.72 percent from 19.07 percent.
Suzuki Phils Inc. ranked third with 21,984 units sold, up by 7.9 percent or 4.74 percent of the market, an improvement from 4.36 percent a year earlier.
Rounding out the top five were Ford Motor Company Phils Inc. (21,784 units, down 22.2 percent and 4.70 percent of the market) and Nissan Philippines Inc. (20,571 units, down 23.2 percent, 4.44-percent market share).
