MANILA, Philippines – Isuzu Philippines Corp. (IPC) posted its best monthly sales in the company’s 19-year history last month behind the continued uptick in demand for motor vehicles in the country.
IPC said sales in March rose 27.1 percent to 2,437 units from 1,917 units in the same month last year.
The record March performance for the company pushed first quarter sales to 6,579 units, up 32.7 percent from 4,957 units last year.
“The robust performance of Isuzu Philippines in the first quarter of 2016, and specifically in March, is a reflection of the local automotive industry’s continued growth, which in turn is boosted by a buoyant economy that definitely encourages consumer spending. Still, we are pleasantly surprised that our growth has actually outpaced that of the industry, and we credit in part our sustained promotional efforts and relevant lineup of vehicles for the rise,” IPC president Hajime Koso said.
IPC said the robust growth in the first three months of the year was fueled primarily by the Isuzu mu-X SUV model which registered sales of 3,236 units during the period.
On a monthly basis, IPC said sales of the SUV from January to March 2016 never dipped below 1,000 units.
“Without question, consumer demand for the mu-X has allowed IPC to record its highest-ever monthly tally,” Koso said.
Adding to the company’s record March output were also the steady sales of the Isuzu Crosswind utility model and D-MAX pickup.
IPC’s light commercial vehicle lineup posted a 32.3 percent rise in the first quarter of the year to a total of 5,275 units compared to the 3,986 units recorded during the same period last year.
Sales of Isuzu truck models in the first quarter, meanwhile, jumped 34.3 percent year-on-year to 1,304 units.