Car sales bounce back in September vs sluggish August
Total auto industry sales, posted by Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI) and the Truck Manufacturers Association Inc. (TMA) members and industry estimates, has bounced back in September from the slowdown it incurred last August.
According to TMA and CAMPI report on Tuesday, auto sales recorded 40,240 units sold in September, making it the third-highest monthly sales performance of the year.
Sustain momentum
Both internal combustion engine (ICE) and electric vehicle (xEV) categories show strong month-on-month improvement. CAMPI is looking to sustain momentum towards a strong overall 2026 performance
However, sales made in September 2026 was still down by 5.8 percent to September 2025’s 37,915.
TMA and CAMPI said combined sales of 35,722 units in September, up 20.6 percent from August’s 29,612 as the industry rebounded from weather-related disruptions that weighed on sales the previous month.
With estimated sales from non-CAMPI-TMA brands included, total industry sales in September surpassed 40,240 units, 17 percent higher than in previous month.
Positive market movement
CAMPI president Jose Maria Atienza said breaching the 40,000-unit monthly sales mark reflects positive market movement.
She said the industry’s robust September performance signals a return to the recovery path projected before weather-related disruptions briefly affected market activity in August.
“Sales of ICE vehicles posted a strong 19 percent rebound in September, while xEV sales also recorded a solid 14 percent increase.
This continued growth across both segments reflects healthy consumer demand and reinforces our confidence in the market.
Well-positioned to deliver strong performance
“Based on annual sales trends heading into the final months of the year, we believe the industry is well-positioned to sustain its momentum and deliver a strong overall performance in 2026,” said CAMPI president Jose Maria Atienza.
Among CAMPI-TMA member brands, Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. led September sales with 18,157 units, followed by Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. with 3,962 units and Suzuki Philippines Inc. with 1,466 units.