AUTOMOTIVE sales in the Philippines continued to slow in February, falling 8.5-percent year-on-year, with the industry bracing for further pressure from rising fuel costs driven by the Middle East conflict.
Joint data released on March 18 by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (Campi) and the Truck Manufacturers Association showed total sales of 35,842 units in February, down from 39,164 units a year earlier.
However, the February figure was higher than the 33,696 units sold in January.
For the first two months of 2026, total sales reached 69,538 units, a 9.4-percent decline from 76,768 units in the same period last year.
Campi president Jose Maria Atienza said the industry had expected the adverse impact of elevated pump prices. The upswing has affected how Filipinos choose and use their cars, he said.
Automakers have been expanding and diversifying their lineups with more fuel-efficient and electrified models to offer cost-saving options to buyers, Atienza added.
Electric vehicle (EV) sales rose 18.7 percent month-on-month to 3,098 units in February from 2,610 units in January.
Year to date, EV sales surged 66.9 percent to 5,701 units, from 3,416 units in the same period last year. (Logan Kal-El M. Zapanta © Philippine Daily Inquirer)
