Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) steadily built momentum throughout 2014 to finish the year with robust sales performance. The country’s reputed leader in diesel technology last year registered vehicle deliveries of 14,134 units, 2,341 more than the company’s 11,793-unit overall sales in 2013, or a remarkable 19.9% surge.

IPC started 2014 riding on the strength of the ever-popular Isuzu Crosswind AUV and that of the Isuzu D-MAX pickup. The two models sustained their steady demand throughout the year to help IPC push around 1,000 vehicles per month. This contributed to IPC having registered almost every month a double-digit year-on-year growth versus the company’s 2013 tally. In the first six months of 2014, 6,429 vehicles have been sold compared to the 5,757 units recorded during the same period of the previous year, or a 11.7% increase. Except for July’s result, IPC’s month-to-date sales in 2014 also remained higher than in the year before.

From September to December 2014 IPC’s performance shifted to a higher gear with the much-anticipated arrival of the All-New Isuzu mu-X SUV. Replacing the Isuzu Alterra and taking over as the company’s flagship model, the mu-X immediately accelerated IPC’s performance in the SUV segment with astounding triple-digit growth every month from September all through December last year.

Upon its launch in September 2014, the mu-X instantly shifted 357 units, followed by 331 in October, 532 in November and 499 in December. This lifted IPC’s monthly total from just a little over 1,000 vehicles to an average of over 1,400 units. The mu-X’s 1,719-unit total in the last four months of 2014 means the all-new model accounted for more than half of IPC’s sales difference in 2014 versus 2013.

“The immediate success of the All-New Isuzu mu-X demonstrates the domestic market’s strong demand for fresh products that address consumers’ needs and aspirations,” said IPC President Nobuo Izumina. “It is also an undeniable indicator of the market’s optimism brought about by a buoyant economy.”

Complementing the 2014 performance of IPC’s light commercial vehicle models were results posted by Isuzu’s N-Series business-use trucks. The N-Series, which has led the Philippines’ light-duty truck segment for 15 consecutive years, carried on its strength last year and logged month-to-date growth all throughout 2014. The N-Series finished 2014 at 3,135 units sold compared against 2,386 units the prior year.

Building up on the N-Series’s year-on-year figures were those of the D-MAX, which sold 3,803 units last year compared to 2,398 in 2013, and the MU-X, which when combined with the Alterra’s results posted 2,048 units last year versus 577 units in the year before.