Toyota Motors Phils posts record sales of 45,915 units in 2008

Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. (TMP), the country’s largest car manufacturer, announced yesterday that it recorded an all-time high sales of 45,915 units in 2008 despite the general slowdown in global consumer demand.

“Aside from recording an all-time high sales of 45,915 units since the start of our operations, we have also captured our 7th consecutive triple crown, number one in passenger cars, commercial vehicles, and overall sales,” Raymond Rodriguez, TMP’s First Vice President for Vehicle Sales said in a statement.

“We have also experienced an upward trend market share towards the last two months of 2008. Our November and December shares posted highest for the year at 42.2 percent and 39.6 percent respectively due to the strong sales of our Vios, Innova, Fortuner, Avanza, Hilux and Camry models, which are all leaders in their respective segments,” he added.Rodriguez said they are hopeful that this trend will continue this year.

Rodriguez said that Toyota in the Philippines has already sold more than 500,000 units since the start of operations 20 years ago, and in 2007, have already surpassed pre-Asian crisis levels with annual sales of over 40,000-level.

“We hope this trend continues but we are carefully reviewing our 2009 forecast with a conservative outlook,” he noted.

Rodriguez cited that the country’s top four vehicles are all from Toyota ’s line-up with locally-produced Vios maintaining its lead.

According to the reports of the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI), TMPC registered 45,915 units from January to December 2008 with 36.9-percent market share and two-percent growth.

Toyota ’s passenger car sales is recorded at 18,323 units with 20 percent growth versus the same period last year. On the other hand, commercial vehicle sales stood at 27,592 units.

The Vios is the country’s best-selling vehicle for two consecutive years with total sales of 12,020 units at 38-percent growth in 2008. The Innova closely follows as the second best-selling vehicle with annual sales of 10,000 units.–Ma. Elisa P. Osorio, Philippine Star