Vehicle sales in the Philippines picked up in May as demand improved after a slower April, according to the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI) and the Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA).

CAMPI-TMA members sold 33,532 units in May, up 23.8 percent from 27,089 units in April. The broader market, with industry estimates included, reached about 35,200 units, or 6.9 percent higher than the previous month.

The May result was still below the 39,775 units sold in the same month last year. CAMPI-TMA year-to-date sales reached 167,324 units as of May, down 12.1 percent from 190,429 units in the same period in 2025.

Commercial vehicles remained the main volume driver with 26,840 units sold in May, up 24.7 percent from April. Passenger car sales also rose 20.3 percent to 6,692 units.

CAMPI president Jose Maria Atienza said May is usually a rebound month after a lean April. He said buyers continue to look at energy efficiency when choosing vehicles.

Electrified vehicle sales continued to grow in the first five months. CAMPI-TMA data showed xEV sales reached 24,356 units from January to May, more than double the 10,431 units sold in the same period last year.

xEVs accounted for 14.56 percent of CAMPI-TMA year-to-date sales. The press release said xEVs now account for 18 percent of the total market, based on broader industry estimates.

Battery electric vehicle sales rose 192.5 percent year-to-date to 5,204 units. Plug-in hybrid sales reached 3,853 units, while hybrid electric vehicle sales climbed 79.3 percent to 15,299 units.

Toyota Motor Philippines led CAMPI-TMA May sales with 17,076 units. Mitsubishi Motors Philippines followed with 5,415 units. Suzuki Philippines placed third with 1,441 units, ahead of Ford Motor Company Philippines with 1,260 units and Isuzu Philippines with 930 units.