Vehicle, motorcycle output, sales down by double digits

MANILA, Philippines — The rollout of new motor vehicles and motorcycles in the country skidded by double digits in the first seven months of the year as the coronavirus disease pandemic continued to affect operations.

Data from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Automotive Federation (AAF) showed the Philippines assembled 33,715 motor vehicles from January to July, 33 percent lower than the 50,080 units in the same period last year.

All the other Southeast Asian countries also had lower motor vehicle output during the same period.

Posting the biggest drop in motor vehicle assembly operations was Indonesia, which produced 393,942 units as of end-July, down 45 percent from the previous year’s 711,954 units.

Thailand, which serves as Southeast Asia’s automotive hub, saw its motor vehicle output decrease by 44 percent to 695,468 units in the January to July period from 1.24 million units a year ago.

As of end-July, Malaysia’s motor vehicle output dipped 36 percent year-on-year to 213,680 units, while Vietnam’s fell  31 percent year-on-year  to 73,041 units. Myanmar had a 14 percent reduction year-on-year to 7,515 units.

Overall, motor vehicles manufactured in the ASEAN declined 42 percent to 1.42 million units in the January to July period this year from 2.45 million units last year.

In terms of motor vehicle sales, almost all countries registered a contraction in the January to July period.

For the Philippines in particular, motor vehicle sales dropped 49 percent to 105,583 units from 205,945 units a year ago.

Other ASEAN countries which saw their motor vehicle sales drop are Indonesia (-50 percent), Malaysia (-33 percent), Singapore (-53 percent), Thailand (-36 percent)  and Vietnam (-28 percent).

On the other hand, Brunei registered an 11 percent year-on-year increase in motor vehicle sales to 7,612 units, while Myanmar’s went up 11 percent year-on-year to 11,795 units.

Motor vehicle sales in ASEAN were trimmed 40 percent to 1.19 million units in the January to July period from the previous year’s 1.99 million units.

For motorcycle and scooter assembly, the Philippines, like all its neighbors, produced less in the  January to July period compared to last year.

Philippine motorcycle and scooter output reached 270,747 units, 61 percent lower than the 688,987 units a year ago.

Malaysia’s motorcycle output was slashed by 27 percent year-on-year to 225,659 units as of end-July while Thailand’s fell 29 percent year-on-year to 801,523 units in the seven-month period.

Total motorcycle output in ASEAN slipped 39 percent to 1.30 million units from the previous year’s 2.13 million units.

All countries covered by the AAF report also had lower sales in the January to July period.

In the Philippines, motorcycle sales slid 42 percent to 564,311 units from last year’s 975,976 units.

Malaysia’s motorcycle sales decreased 24 percent year-on-year to 235,084 units, while Thailand’s dipped 17 percent year-on-year to 869,002 units.

Singapore’s sales dropped 50 percent year-on-year to 5,894 units.

Total motorcycle sales in ASEAN were reduced 28 percent to 1.67 million units in the January to July period from 2.34 million units a year ago.

Earlier, Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. president Rommel Gutierrez said the group submitted recommendations to the Department of Trade and Industry to support the automotive industry amid weak sales performance due to the pandemic.

He said the policy recommendations include support measures for employment retention and temporary reduction of duty on imports of raw materials.