The demise of rival Philippine automotive group, AVID, seems to be exaggerated as they seem to prepare for a “future-ready” 2023.

The Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors, Inc. (AVID) ended 2021 with improved total sales of 58,916 units sold compared to the 51,851 units sold in the same period last year, or a 14 percent growth (YTD).

The Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors, Inc. (AVID) maintains its pace to recovery with a 26 percent increase in sales, year-to-date (YTD), for the first nine months of 2021, recording a total of 43,957 units sold compared to the 34,980 units sold in the same period last year. Likewise, sales in September alone picked up by 26 percent compared to last month’s slump.

Vehicle importers saw a 19 percent month-on-month drop in sales last August when Metro Manila heightened its quarantine classifications in a bid to control the COVID-19 Delta variant.

Sales of the Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors, Inc. (AVID) saw an increase of 43 percent Year-to-Date (YTD) in the first seven months of 2021. The Association recorded total sales of 35,092 units compared to 24,610 units sold in the same period last year. These results mirror that of vehicle manufacturers.

The Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors or AVID tallied 30,153 units sold for the first half of 2021, or a 55 percent increase from 19,509 units sold in the same period last year. Light Commercial Vehicles or LCVs rallied 64 percent, rising to 21,684 units sold compared to 2020’s 13,244. Meanwhile, Passenger Cars (PCs) also managed a 26 percent increase—7,707 units this year to last year’s 6,128 units.

The Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors, Inc. (AVID) registered an 8 percent increase in month-on-month sales. Last May, they sold 4,864 units—an increase over April 2021’s 4,496 units.

The Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors or AVID saw its April 2021 sales numbers follow a similar trend to CAMPI’s April figures, dropping 13 percent compared to March 2021 figures. A total of 20,353 units were sold for the entire month.

The DTI safeguard bond, which was supposed to help carmakers with a local presence seemed to have the opposite effect. The Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors (AVID) managed to brush off the effect of the DTI safeguard bond (at least for now) by posting 5,193 units sold in March 2021—just a 4 percent decline compared to February 2021.

The mood of the automotive industry remained sour as new car sales failed to recover despite a strong showing towards the end of 2020. The Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI) recorded a 12 percent slump in car sales compared to a year ago, echoing the 31 percent decline posted by the Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors (AVID) during the same period.

The Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors, Inc. (AVID) recorded a 3 percent increase in sales or 5,401 units sold in February versus the 5,262 units sold in January 2021. Despite the good news, year-to-date AVID sales slumped by 10.3 percent with 10,663 units versus the 11,890 units reported in the same period last year before the pandemic struck.

Passenger Cars (PC) sales show a 12 percent increase with 1,518 units sold in February versus the 1,350 units sold in January. Year-to-date, sales dropped by 19 percent from 3,540 units sold in 2020 to 2,868 units in 2021.

Suzuki emerges as the top performer with 1,334 units followed by Hyundai with 1,095 units sold since the start of the year.

In the Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV) segment, AVID recorded a 9 percent dip from 8,264 units sold in February 2020 to 7,522 units sold in 2021. In February alone, sales slightly dipped by 2 percent with 3,728 units sold versus the 3,794 units sold in January.

Ford continues to lead this segment with 3,228 units sold. Suzuki holds second place with 1,735 units, closely followed by Hyundai with 1,322 units sold.

Meanwhile, in the Commercial Vehicles (CV) segment, Hyundai reported a whopping 217 percent growth, year-to-date, with 273 units sold in 2021 versus the 86 units sold in 2020. In February alone, sales rose by 31 percent with 155 units sold versus the 118 units sold the previous month.

“AVID ended 2020 on a high note. And while we acknowledge that recovery will not come quickly, we remain focused on taking ‘baby steps’ at all fronts of our respective businesses and count on Government to heed our call for a more comprehensive, long-term approach to reopening the economy by creating more job opportunities, upgrading infrastructure and logistics, and improving the ease and cost of doing business,” AVID President Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo said.

The Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors or AVID reported a significant 41 percent drop in sales last 2020. The 21-member group reported 51,719 units sold last year, compared to the 87,169 units sold in 2019. AVID attributes the decline to the various lockdowns, limited economy activity, and overall weak consumer demand.

The Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors or AVID is the first industry group to release an official statement against the DTI’s plan to impose a safeguard tariff on imported passenger cars and light commercial vehicles.

The Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors, Inc. (AVID) continued its solid recovery, posting a 9 percent increase in vehicle sales for October or a total of 6,120 units sold versus the 5,594 units sold the previous month.

The Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors, Inc. (AVID) reports a 212 percent increase in sales, from 4,955 units sold in the second quarter of the year to 15,471 units sold in the third quarter.

After two straight months of a strong recovery which saw sales increase by 200 percent in June versus May and another 40 percent in July, the Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors, Inc. (AVID) experienced a 7 percent drop in August equivalent to 4,753 units sold versus the 5,100 sold the previous month.

The Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors, Inc. (AVID) saw Year-to-Date (YTD) sales drop 50.9 percent in the first seven months of 2020 compared to the same period last year. That said, AVID sees a healthy recovery with 5,100 units sold in July compared to June.

The Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors, Inc. (AVID) maintained its trek toward a better normal in June 2020, posting 3,697 units in sales, or a 198 percent increase from the 1,239 units sold in the previous month.

The Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors, Inc. (AVID) – with 20 member companies representing 26 global brands – recorded sales of only 14,404 units equivalent to a 34.4 percent drop in the first quarter of the year amid the Enhanced Community Quarantine caused by COVID-19.

Most, if not all, dealerships and their accompanying repair and maintenance facilities have been closed since March 16, 2020.

“The local industry is reeling from this invisible enemy as vehicle manufacturing, importation, distribution, and maintenance have stopped completely. Demand has likewise declined as consumers spend on more urgent needs. With this disruption, we estimate that car sales may drop by around 40 percent for the year,” AVID President Fe Perez-Agudo said.

“The industry is no stranger to adversity but this pandemic will be our toughest challenge yet.  We estimate that it would take at least 12 months for the local industry to recover once the ECQ is completely lifted. There will be a ‘new normal’ and we must be quick to adapt since Filipino consumers will be even more prudent and looking for more value in their purchases," Ms. Agudo added.

The Passenger Cars (PC) segment declined by 43 percent in the first quarter of 2020 with 4,506 units sold versus the 7,848 units in the same period last year. Hyundai leads this segment with 2,724 units sold, followed by Suzuki with 1,127 units, and Ford with 415 units.

In the Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV) segment, year-to-date sales dipped by over 29 percent with 9,806 units sold. Ford leads this segment with a total of 3,479 units while Hyundai comes in second with 2,797 units closely followed by Suzuki with 2,740 units.

Commercial Vehicles (CV) sales declined by 62 percent to just 92 units over the period.

AVID says second quarter sales may dip even further due to the ECQ for the whole month of April and at least half of May in major urban areas.

The association, however, says that despite the bleak short-term outlook, many members have joined the nation’s battle to fight COVID-19. Several AVID companies are providing free mobility which includes the transport of our front liners, medical supplies, and essential goods across the country. Some have donated personal protective equipment (PPE), masks, gloves, etc. to COVID facilities. Others are supporting their home communities and LGUs.

AVID member companies have used the lockdown to develop COVID-ready processes, structures, and organizations. Health protection and safety strategies are being put in place for employees, business partners, and to meet the emerging needs of the customer in the next normal environment. It added that the industry is very much aware of the protocols on social distancing —wearing of appropriate protective equipment, and additional sanitation measures—which it committed to observe. As an added layer of protection, some AVID members will be conducting antibody testing prior to the re-entry of its workforce. This will be done as part of Project ARK, a private sector-led initiative to conduct mass testing for the new coronavirus at the community level.

Based on government data, the Philippine automotive sector, directly and indirectly, employs 408,000 people.


Editor’s Note:

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

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.