AUTOMOBILE sales slowed in February on the heels of the war in Iran that broke on the last day of that month.
A total of 35,842 units were sold, 8.5 percent lower than the 39,164 in the same month last year, according to data released on Wednesday by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (Campi) and the Truck Manufacturers Association.
The war, which has spread to other Middle East countries, has started to affect how Filipino motorists choose and use their cars, Campi President Jose Maria Atienza said.
However, February’s figures were actually 6.4 percent higher than the 33,696 units sold in January.
“We experienced an expected drop in January, partly caused by leaner supply as a result of strong buyer demand in December,” Atienza said, noting that February’s performance offers a more stable outlook and is a welcome development after the market drop in the second half of 2025.
Year to date, automobile sales were down 9.4 percent to 69,538 units, and commercial vehicle sales declined 7.5 percent to 56,312. Passenger car sales also slumped by 16.7 percent to 13,225.
As the Iran war shows no sign of ending, Atienza said Campi members have been expanding and diversifying their products with energy-efficient and electric options for customers.
Electric vehicle (EV) sales totaled 3,098 units in February, 18.7-percent up from 2,610 a month earlier. Hybrid EVs, which combine an internal combustion engine with an electric motor, accounted for the bulk of sales at 2,479.
For the two-month period, EV sales surged by 66.9 percent to 5,701 units from 3,416 in the same period last year. Also for the same period, hybrids again are dominating at 4,551 units.
The goal is to achieve 500,000 sales this year, Campi said, to improve on last year’s 491,395.
Toyota Motor Philippines remained the market leader, with 17,954 units sold in February, although down by 3.1 percent year-on-year.
Year to date, Toyota has sold 34,300 units, a 6.3-percent annual decrease from 36,606 in the same month last year, and equivalent to 49.33 percent of the market.
Still in second place was Mitsubishi Motors Philippines, which sold 7,358 units last month. This brought its two-month tally to 14,361, enough for a 20.65-percent market share.
In third was Suzuki Philippines with 1,610 units sold in February, which brought its year-to-date total to 3,256 or 4.68 percent of the market.
Rounding out the top five were Nissan Philippines (3,143 units year to date, 4.52-percent market share) and Ford Philippines (2,607 units, 3.75 percent).
