Top-selling cars in August

We continue with our initiative of informing the motoring public of the local auto industry’s actual performance and its continuing contribution to the country’s economy. With these regular sales performance inputs we also hope to inform the public how each industry player performs and which particular models in the vast array that are being currently offered in the local market are most preferred, which may be by choice, by their use or function or by its overall performance.

As we have mentioned in the past weeks, these facts and figures are documented information from Stradcom, the LTO’s (Land Transportation Office) long-time official IT Provider based on actual vehicle registration all over the country. The following are culled from the official list of vehicle registration for the month of August 2016.

During August, considered by the Chinese as the “ghost month,” when business and other things are not at their best, a total of 26,034 vehicles that belong to the Standard Category (as per motoring media consensus and adopted by the Awards Committee of the Auto Focus People’s Choice Awards) were registered.

The Standard subcompact sedan category with a total of 23 models still registered the most number at 8,168 units with the Toyota Vios outselling everyone else with Mitsubishi Mirage G4 coming in second, the Hyundai Accent on 3^rd and the Mitsubishi Mirage and the Honda City coming in in 4^th and 5^th respectively.

Although with only 8 models, the second largest-selling category was the midsize SUV with 5,157 units with the Toyota Fortuner topping the list followed by the Mitsubishi Montero Sport with the Ford Everest on 3^rd followed very closely on 4^th by the Isuzu mu-X with the Chevrolet Trailblazer trailing behind in 5^th position.

A total of 3,495 units belonging to the MPV or multi purpose vehicle with 9 models were registered in the same month with the Toyota Innova on top followed by the Mitsubishi Adventure and Honda Mobilio on 2^nd and 3^rd slots with the Suzuki Ertiga on the 4^th rung while the BAIC M20 and the Mahindra Xylo on 5^th and 6^th with a single unit separating both newcomers in the industry.

The 8-model pick up category were part of the top sellers with 2,892 units sold with the Toyota HiLux leading the pack with the Ford Ranger not far behind and the Nissan Navara on 3^rd slot with Mitsubishi Strada and the Isuzu D-Max occupying 4^th and 5^th.

A total of 2,752 vans were registered with the Toyota HiAce ahead over 2^nd placer Nissan Urvan while the Hyundai Grand Starex and the Kia Grand Carnival took 3^rd and 4^th slots in this 4-model category.

The Ford EcoSport and the Ford Escape grabbed 1^st and 2^nd in the compact SUV category, which sold a total of 1,617 units in its 14-model line up with the Honda HR-V, the Subaru Forester and the Hyundai Tucson coming in one after the other in their 3^rd, 4^th and 5th rankings.

With the Corolla Altis selling the most number, 1,114 compact sedans were sold out of the 10-model line up. The Honda Civic came in 2^nd with the Hyundai Elantra 3^rd, newcomer Suzuki on 4^th and the Mazda3 was 5^th.

The 8-model “open” category had vehicles that couldn’t be accurately considered on any category and it sold 542 units with Nissan Juke heading the list followed by the Toyota FJ Cruiser with the Subaru XV on 3^rd and the Subaru Outback and the Subaru Levorg on 4^th and 5^th.

There were a total of 182 large SUVs registered and the Ford Explorer was on top with the Toyota Prado in 2^nd, the Mitsubishi Pajero on 3^rd with the Nissan Patrol Royale 4^th and Ford Expedition on 5^th on the 9-model line up.

The 7-model midsize sedan category had 81 units sold. The Toyota Camry sold the most with the Kia Forte coming in 2^nd, the Honda Accord was on 3^rd slot and the Mazda 6 and Nissan Altima on the final 2 rungs.

There are 6 models listed under the sports car category and the Ford Mustang leads the elite group with the Subaru WRX 2.0 in 2^nd, the Mazda MX5 in 3^rd, and the 4^th and 5^th slots occupied by Subaru WRX STI and the Hyundai Genesis Coupe.

Next week, we’ll have the August sales figures of the Luxury category.

People’s Choice Awards voting results at the PIMS

We conducted an on-site public voting for the Auto Focus People’s Choice Awards during CAMPI’s (Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers in the Philippines) grand staging of the Philippine International Motor Show at the World Trade Center a few weeks back.                               There were 858 car enthusiasts who registered and cast their votes during the 4-day polls. A total of 4,123 votes were cast for Standard models while 4,090 votes were for the Luxury category. Here are the results.

With the deadline for casting your votes on midnight of September 30 there are still 2 days left for you to vote for your favorite automobile model to vie for the 2016-2017 Automobile of the Year—People’s Choice Awards (Standard / Luxury). Log on to www.autofocus.com.ph.

Happy Motoring!!!

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