The members of the Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors, Inc. (AVID) says their January 2020 sales dropped 16 percent compared to the same period in 2019 due to challenges posed by the Tall Ash Fall followed by the outbreak of COVID-19.

The group, which is composed of 25 brands, saw its sales dip collectively to 5,433 units compared to 6,482 units in January 2019.

“2020 will be a very challenging year for the industry given the slowdown in automotive demand, supply chain disruptions, and dampened consumer confidence caused by these twin events. Fortunately, the Philippine economy remains strong backed by robust public spending, private consumption, and lower interest rates,” AVID President Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo said.

“I am confident that AVID members will adapt to and hurdle these challenges and bounce back even stronger in the coming months,” she added.

The Passenger Cars (PC) segment declined by 31 percent in the first month of 2020 with 1,553 units sold in January 2020 versus the 2,258 units sold in the same period last year. Hyundai took the top spot with 967 units, followed by Suzuki with 353 units, Ford with 117 units, and Auto Nation Group (Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge/Mercedes-Benz) with 56 units.

Buyers though swung to the Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV) segment which saw a small 7.3 percent dip for the month with 3,855 units sold versus 4,157 units sold in the same period last year. Here, Ford leads with 1,375 units sold followed by Suzuki at 1,122 units, Hyundai at 1,053, and Motor Image (Subaru) at 178 units.

In the Commercial Vehicles (CV) segment, AVID recorded a 63 percent dip or a total of 25 units sold in January 2020 versus the same period last year.

“We are no strangers to adversity and disruptions. As we have done in the past 10 years of AVID’s existence, our members remain resolute to provide better vehicles, better services, and better customer experiences to Filipinos everywhere,” Ms. Agudo concluded.

January 2020 AVID Sales

Passenger Cars

• ANG – Auto Nation Group (Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Mercedes-Benz) – 56 units
• BBAI – British Bespoke Automobiles, Inc. (Rolls-Royce) - 0
• BUAI – British United Automobiles, Inc. (Lotus, MINI) – 15 units
• DMI – DBPHILS Motorsports, Inc. (Aston Martin) - 0
• FGPI – Ford Group Philippines, Inc. (Ford) – 117 units
• HARI – Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (Hyundai) – 967 units
• MIPI – Motor Image Pilipinas, Inc. (Subaru) – 15 units
• LMI – Legado Motors, Inc. (GAC) – 0 units
• PGA – PGA Cars, Inc. (Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini, Porsche) - units
• SMC – Scandinavian Motors Corporation (Volvo) – 1 unit
• SPI – Suzuki Philippines, Inc. (Suzuki) – 353 units
• TAC – Triesenburg Auto Corporation (Kinglong) – 8 units
• TCCCI – The Covenant Car Company, Inc. (Chevrolet) – 21 units

Light Commercial Vehicles

• ANG – Auto Nation Group (Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Mercedes-Benz) – 22 units
• BBAI – British Bespoke Automobiles, Inc. (Rolls-Royce) - 0
• BUAI – British United Automobiles, Inc. (Lotus, MINI) – 1 units
• DMI – DBPHILS Motorsports, Inc. (Aston Martin) - 0
• FGPI – Ford Group Philippines, Inc. (Ford) – 1,357 units
• HARI – Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (Hyundai) – 1,053 units
• JAIPI – JAC Automobile International Philippines (JAC) – 0 units
• MIPI – Motor Image Pilipinas, Inc. (Subaru) – 178 units
• LMI – Legado Motors, Inc. (GAC) – 0 units
• PGA – PGA Cars, Inc. (Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini, Porsche) - units
• SMC – Scandinavian Motors Corporation (Volvo) – 4 unit
• SPI – Suzuki Philippines, Inc. (Suzuki) – 1,122 units
• TAC – Triesenburg Auto Corporation (Kinglong) – 16 units
• TCCCI – The Covenant Car Company, Inc. (Chevrolet) – 84 units

Commercial Vehicle

• HARI – Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (Hyundai) – 25 units
• JAIPI – JAC Automobile International Philippines (JAC) – 0 units

DBPHILS Motorsports, Inc., JAC Automobile International Philippines, Legado Motors, Inc., and PGA Cars all refused to divulge sales numbers and were not counted in the AVID sales total.