WITH sales data horrendously drawing jaw-dropping stares, the current year ought to be forgotten this early. Next year and in the coming years—even decades, perhaps?—the pandemic-hit 2020 will be bitterly remembered as just that: the car industry wasn’t just battered down to its knees, it was beaten black and blue by Covid-19. Not simply knocked down but brutally knocked out.
Suddenly, Campi and Avid figures looked like trailers of a horror movie, with grotesque numbers appearing outright eyesores you could puke in just seconds gawking at them.
With industry sales plummeting down to 20,542 in July alone from 31,810 in the same month in 2019, that’s a 35.4-percent sales dip and a clear dagger at the heart that no surgery might ever repair the damage it had inflicted on the industry at this stage of the scourge.
“This volume reduction can have serious operational and financial impact on the industry,” said Rommel “Barry Gibb” Gutierrez, the president of Campi (Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc.).
The industry’s performance in the year’s first seven months was even more appalling as sales nosedived to 48.7 percent with 105,583 units sold from 205,945 in the same span last year.
Toyota suffered a 49.2-percent drop with 44,481 units sold in the first semester and, on a bright note if it can be called that, it still remained the market leader.
Even Avid (Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors) absorbed a terrible blow as demand fell 50.0 percent with only 50,51 units sold from January to July.
But ever the perennial optimist that she is, Avid President Fe Perez-Agudo said: “Given that we have already bottomed out in the first semester, we believe the second half of the year will be better assuming there are no further lockdowns past August 18. Our focus now is to win back consumer confidence and give them the best value during these pandemic times.”
Parallel to this, I like what lawyer Albert B. Arcilla, the president/CEO of Chevrolet Philippines-The Covenant Car Co. Inc., told the Inquirer’s Tessa R. Salazar recently: “As soon as quarantine restrictions eased up and mobility requirements increased, we have seen an increased interest in the different segments of the brands we distribute—Chevrolet and MG…We at TCCCI acknowledged the new dynamics and needs of the motoring public so we established various aftersales programs aligned with our commitment to deliver vehicle ownership experiences that are unique to both MG and Chevrolet.”
In dire times, fighting spirit matters.
Isuzu in Pagadian City
WHILE nobody’s looking, Isuzu Philippines Corp. (IPC) opened recently its 43rd dealership and third Isuzu Outlet Standardization (IOS) dealership facility in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur.
What a bold move, coming at a time when the industry is reeling from the pandemic.
On August 7, IPC executives and North-Min Automotive Dealership Inc. NMADI) officials presented a walk-through of Isuzu Pagadian in Barangay Tiguma, one of fastest-growing commercial centers in Pagadian City.
The IPC statement said the dealership is also a satellite of Isuzu Butuan. Its floor space of 3,871 sq. m houses a four-vehicle showroom display, service bays that can accommodate five light commercial vehicles and two commercial vehicles, a wash bay and a wheel alignment facility, and five slots for body repair and paint works.
During the virtual presentation, IPC President Hajime Koso said: “The addition of a new Isuzu dealership in our rapidly expanding network is a strong testament to the growing preference for the Isuzu brand as we continue to widen our reach to our customers in Region 9. This is another major milestone that we share with our new dealer partner North-Min Automotive Dealership Inc., and we look forward to serving our customers in through Isuzu Pagadian.”
Mr. George Ongchua, Isuzu Pagadian general manager, said: “Isuzu is a renowned automotive brand in Mindanao. Its trucks and light commercial vehicles have proven time and again that they are perfectly suited to the varying and challenging terrains and road conditions of Mindanao.”
PEE STOP
Honda is coming up with a device that collects dusts, molds, volcanic ash and cigarette smoke. The CAF (Cabin Air Filter) also improves cabin air quality as it filters out external and internal pollutants to ensure your vehicle’s air-conditioning system safe, according to Honda’s Arianne Colene L. Jalalon.… Since I’m beginning to love Zoom as the “new normal” for car launches today, I’ll join BMW President Spencer “ASY” Yu today in the BMW 7 Series launch at 7:20 p.m. See you, ASY…The Corolla Cross was also launched via Zoom on August 20, proving once more that Toyota, pandemic or no pandemic, is as determined as ever to keep its lofty ranking as the world’s No. 1 carmaker. The Corolla has been Toyota’s undisputed icon of long standing.