Strong demand for light-, medium- and heavy-duty trucks have lifted Isuzu Philippines Corporation’s (IPC) performance in May, sustaining the company’s upward momentum that began at the onset of 2016.

Sales of Isuzu’s commercial trucks totaled to 2,183 from January to May this year, registering a 39.1-percent spike over the 1,569 units that were sold during the same period in 2015. The result is a further improvement on IPC’s overall performance year-to-date, which stands at a 35.1-percent growth on account of 10,819 deliveries made so far this year compared to the 8,010 for the same months last year, combined data from the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. and Truck Manufacturers Association bare.

The figures also show that sales of IPC’s light commercial vehicle line-up, which includes the Isuzu Crosswind AUV, D-MAX pickup and mu-X premium SUV, have risen 34.1 percent with 8,636 units moved from January to May this year, compared to only 6,441 units sold during the same period in 2015.

“While Isuzu Philippines recorded a dip in demand last month compared to the previous one, our year-on-year result remains solid, easily outpacing the already robust performance of the local automotive industry. The increase in deliveries of Isuzu’s commercial trucks, which compensated for the slower movement of the light commercial vehicles, is an indication both of IPC products’ relevance to the local market and of a dynamic national economy in which the transport of goods is a vital component,” IPC President Hajime Koso said.

On a monthly tally, IPC’s performance in May accelerated 20.1 percent with 2,021 units sold, topping the 1,614 units registered in the same month last year. Total deliveries of Isuzu light commercial vehicles reached 1,561, comprised of 365 units of the Crosswind, 299 units of the D-Max and 897 units of the mu-X.

Also in May, Isuzu sold 284 units of the N-Series light-duty trucks, 128 F-Series medium-duty trucks, and 48 units of C-Series and E-Series heavy-duty trucks, for a monthly tally of 460 units.

The result in May, as well as for the first five months of 2016, places IPC firmly on third spot in the Philippines’ commercial vehicle market while at the same time recording the highest increase, at 35 percent, among the top three automotive companies in terms of sales growth this year compared to last year.

“IPC’s performance to date is an accurate reflection of a vigorous Philippine automotive market, with which we share the same enthusiasm for record-setting results when 2016’s first half rolls by at the end of June,” Koso said.