Car Sales Bumagsak ng 8.5% — But Electric Vehicles Are Winning Big
Philippine auto sales took a hit in February, dropping 8.5 percent year-on-year to 35,842 units from 39,164 the year before. But there's a bright spot in the numbers: electric vehicle sales are surging, signaling a major shift in what Filipinos want to drive.
According to a joint report by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines (CAMPI) and the Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA), passenger car sales declined 13.6 percent to 7,047 units, while commercial vehicle sales slipped 7.1 percent to 28,795 units.
CAMPI President Jose Maria Atienza attributed the slowdown partly to supply constraints carried over from strong December demand. "We experienced an expected drop in January, partly caused by the leaner supply as an effect of the strong buyer demand we saw in December," he explained. Month-on-month, though, February actually showed recovery — up 6.4 percent from January's numbers.
The bigger concern going forward? Rising fuel prices driven by Middle East tensions. Atienza warned that recent oil price hikes could further dampen car sales in the coming months. For the first two months of 2026, total vehicle sales are down 9.4 percent compared to the same period last year.
But the EV story tells a different tale. As gas prices climb, more Filipino buyers are looking at electric alternatives — and the numbers prove it. With the government pushing for greener transportation and fuel costs na patuloy na tumataas, expect EVs to keep gaining ground in a market that desperately needs cheaper options on the road.
Source: BusinessWorld
