MANILA -- The Philippine auto industry may return to pre-pandemic levels this year in terms of sales but local manufacturing is also losing its competitiveness, the president of the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines (CAMPI) said.

"We have seen a steady growth from after the pandemic in terms of sales. In fact, this year, we are going to hit the pre-pandemic level," said CAMPI President Atty. Rommel Gutierrez

Gutierrez said the group is close to its target of selling 500,00 cars.

"We are almost there, we are targeting this year about 470,000 units, and we still have 3 months more to go, and we hope that 500,000 could be reached this year, at least," he said.

The executive said the Philippines is one of the countries with the fastest growth in automotive sales.

"The economy is doing well, we have lots of new (introductions) of model vehicles and even new players in the industry."

Gutierrez noted, however, that local car manufacturing is losing its competitiveness.

"Local manufacturing is really losing its competitiveness, but it’s still there, and thanks to the government for their continued support to retain the viability of local manufacturing," he said.

"Right now we only have about 30 percent of the total industry sales that are locally manufactured. It used to be more than 50 percent," he added.

He noted that importing cars has become cheaper than locally manufacturing them. Despite this, he said that local manufacturers are not giving up, and will not leave the Philippines as long as government support remains available.

"It has always been a collaboration between the government and the private sector in terms of making local manufacturing a viable industry," he said.

--ANC, 21 October 2024