Double-digit increases in deliveries across Isuzu Philippines Corporation’s (IPC) light commercial vehicle and truck and bus lineup in the first nine months of the year have lifted the company’s total to nearly a fifth of its results during the same period last year.

IPC’s total sales from January to September this year reached 19,528 units, a 19.6 percent jump from the 16,236-unit result the company achieved during the same months in 2015. The trio of the Isuzu Crosswind AUV, mu-X SUV and D-Max pickup combined for a 16.6 percent rise in sales while Isuzu trucks and buses posted a 31.8 percent growth, the combined report of the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI) and Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) released in September showed.

“The buoyancy currently experienced by the domestic economy manifests in strong consumer confidence, which in turn impacts automotive sales in a positive manner. Isuzu’s sustained upward trajectory this year reflects this development, as well as the market’s demand for vehicles that enhance both personal and commercial mobility,” IPC President Hajime Koso said.

Sales of the Crosswind this year have totaled to 3,495 units, a 15.4 percent increase, while there were 2,826 units of the D-Max sold, registering a solid 27.3 percent growth. The mu-X continued to be the company’s bestseller as 8,914 units were sold in the same period, the result leading IPC’s flagship model to jump 14.0 percent in sales.

Contributing to the growth of IPC’s light commercial vehicles was the strong market demand for Isuzu trucks and buses. With 2,570 units sold this year, results of the Category III N-Series models rose 17.6 percent. Meanwhile, sales of Category IV buses grew 130 percent, Category IV trucks 21.9 percent, and Category V trucks a record 283.2 percent. The increases represent total sales of 4,293 trucks and buses for the first nine months of 2016.

On a year-on-year basis, IPC’s total in September this year maintained momentum with a 3.2 percent increase compared to the same month last year. The slight 2.3 percent decline in sales of Isuzu’s light commercial vehicles was offset by the significant 23.5 percent growth in the company’s truck and bus segment.

IPC’s results in September this year were likewise positive compared against the company’s strong showing in August. The release in September of the 2017 D-Max at the Philippine International Motor Show pushed sales of the pickup truck model by a staggering 84.2 percent, recording 420 units delivered in September compared to 228 units in August. This carried IPC’s total sales of light commercial vehicles to a 10.3 percent growth, with 1,628 units sold for the month. The 552-unit sales of Isuzu trucks and buses in September also rose 2.8 percent over August, leading IPC to post an 8.3 percent gain with total sales of 2,180 units for the month.

Apart from the 2017 D-Max, IPC also showed off a limited edition variant of its mu-X also at PIMS. Available in four shades: Garnet Red, Cosmic Black, Silky White Pearl, and Obsidian Gray, the mu-X Limited Edition is spruced up with new alloy wheels, standard leather seats, and an underfloor organizer box.

“The last quarter of 2016 should see a more robust economy as remittances from abroad arrive. This should spur more spending, and we’re confident that Isuzu vehicles will remain a top-of-mind choice for consumers looking for vehicles that are suited for both personal and business purposes,” Koso said.