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THE
spiraling fuel prices have apparently failed to send
shivers down the local auto industry’s spine, as it
remains confident of hitting, and even surpassing, its
7-percent sales growth target for the year.
Elizabeth Lee, president of the Chamber of Automotive
Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (Campi), said the
industry is expected to continue doing well and buck the
global trend, particularly in developed countries like
the US, where sales are diminishing due to the higher
cost of fuel and the economic slowdown.
“At this
point, our target is achievable so there is no reason
for us to revise [downward]. We are quite positive,” Lee
told the BusinessMirror.
Campi is
targeting to sell a total of 125,500 units this year.
From January to June, the industry is 13-percent faster
than its sales pace in 2007.
Lee said
the local industry has been managing to improve its
performance despite the growing concerns over continued
increase in fuel cost because of the shift in the
preference of local buyers.
She said
the Filipinos have become smart buyers that they are
opting to buy vehicles that serve dual purpose—for
personal and business use.
This,
she said, is why sales of commercial vehicles continue
to grow at 15 percent in the first half of the year.
With the
Filipinos now also making their purchase of vans,
pickups and multipurpose vehicles a business option, Lee
said they have strong hopes that they could even surpass
the 7-percent growth target.
Also,
Lee said the remittances of overseas Filipino workers
continue to grow.
At this
year’s second Philippine International Motor Show
(PIMS), Lee said the industry would be featuring the
fuel-efficient “green” vehicles “with technologies that
are environment-friendly, energy-efficient,
safety-oriented and pocket-friendly.”
“It is
all about mindset, we want to change the behavior of the
Filipino buyers,” she said.
The
second PIMS will cover over 11,000 square meters of
exhibit space at the World Trade Center from August 21
to 24 and will have 15 brands featuring their prototypes
and concept types of vehicles that are environment
friendly.
Froilan
Dytianquin, assistant vice president of Mitsubishi
Motors Philippines Corp., said the company would be
presenting its vehicle that can run purely on
electricity. It is set for mass production in Japan
within the year and in Europe next year.
Dytianquin said Mitsubishi would probably bring the
electric car to the Philippines in 2011, although it
will depend on the availability of fast-charging
stations that will be put up by power-distribution
utilities.
Lee said
they expect the number of visitors to exceed the 60,000
registered in the inaugural of the PIMS last year. |
