The Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. (TMPC) has done it again.

For the 10th straight year, TMPC achieved another triple crown, cementing the company’s position as the number 1 car brand in the country in terms of sales.

The triple crown is awarded to the auto company that leads the passenger car (PC) segment, the commercial vehicle (CV) segment, as well as overall sales.

For 2012, the Toyota Vios was the top selling passenger car in the country while the Toyota Innova was the top selling commercial vehicle.

Overall, Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation sold 54,593 vehicles in 2011, amounting to a 38.55% market share.

The company achieved the feat despite a decline in total sales of 4 percent.

Mitsubishi Motors Philippine Corp. wound up in second spot with sales reaching 32,603 units during the same period for a 23.02 market share.

Overall, the car industry did not fare well in 2011, with total sales going down by four percent.

In a report by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. and the Truck Manufacturers Association, a total of 141,616 cars were in a 12-month period. This was way below the record 147,488 total set in 2010.

Sales in all types of vehicles posted declines, something which players in the industry attributed to the disruptions in the supply of car units and parts brought about by the calamities that hit Japan and Thailand.

Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc., which belongs to the Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors (AVID), kept third spot with 20,297 units sold.

Ford Group Philippines, which claims to be the fastest growing company in terms of sales in the Philippines, overtook Honda Cars Philippines for the fourth spot. Ford and Mazda collectively sold 12,196 units, 32.5 percent better than its sales in 2010.

Honda, still reeling from the impact of the disasters in Japan and Thailand, closed 2011 with only 11,611 sold, 30.1 percent lower than the number of cars sold in 2010.

Journal Online

Tsikot.com Philippines

Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. (TMP) vows to expand operations in the country in step with the directions set by its mother company, Toyota Motor Co. (TMC), to harness local production.

Rommel Gutierrez, vice president of TMP, said even before twin tragedy that struck Japan in March and the Thailand flooding last month, TMC had vowed to localize operations to meet the needs of the market, and strengthen operations in plants where they operate.

Gutierrez said TMP continues to maximize plant operations in Sta. Rosa, Laguna despite recent parts supply crunch.

While industry is 60 percent underutilized, the country’s largest vehicle assembler is set to maintain actual output at 28,000 units this year, just above its capacity of 25,000 units as registered with the Board of Investments.

Gutierrez said TMP has the capacity to produce up to 30,000 units.

Sta. Rosa produces the Innova and the Vios.

In his speech at a press conference at the 42nd Tokyo Motor Show on November 30, TMC chair president Akio Toyoda said the company has confidence and pride in the on-site capabilities, human resources, and technological capabilities it has developed through automobile manufacturing in Japan, Thailand, and numerous other places around the world.

Tyoda said the company would not withdraw operations from neither Tohoku region in Japan nor from Thailand where some of its key plants are located despite the devastation.

TMC’s Thailand operations serve Asean where the Philippines is a part of. Thailand is a key source of some of completely knocked down kits that are assembled in the region.

“After the Great East Japan Earthquake and the flooding in Thailand…I concluded that the answer is to build a new future through automobile manufacturing in collaboration with local residents… The answer is to build a new future through automobile manufacturing in collaboration with local residents.” Toyoda said. He added: “Toyota has no intention of withdrawing from the Tohoku region or from Thailand.

On the contrary, we hope to become a driving force behind restoration and recovery by working together with the local people.

No matter how challenging the manufacturing environment becomes, and no matter how many obstacles we have to overcome, we will maintain our belief in the power of manufacturing.”

Malaya Business Insight

Tsikot.com Philippines

Toyota Motor Philippines sets the stage for the new Year 2010 as they introduce a tougher version of the country’s best-selling commercial vehicle, the Innova Sport Runner. All the passenger car-like comfort offered by the Toyota Innova is packed inside this new variant, with an improved sportier exterior. The Innova SR features new overfenders, side skirts, rear spoiler, new front fog lamp design, 15” alloy wheels in a wider 225 / 55 R15 tires, Sport Runner badge and exclusive black and bronze exterior colors. It will be available in 2.5-liter diesel automatic and manual transmissions at Php 1,064,000 and Php 999,000 respectively. “The Sport Runner is a fresh addition to the Innova line-up. While the Innova has been consistently performing very well since its 2005 introduction, averaging 900 units per month in sales, we understand that there are customers who are also looking for a tougher or sportier look that will compliment the Innova’s driving performance and riding comfort.

We are confident that this new variant will further solidify the Innova’s position as the best-selling MPV, and will contribute to TMP’s overall sales leadership,” surmised Raymond Rodriguez, First Vice President for Vehicle Sales. The Innova Sport Runner will be available in any of Toyota 27 outlets nationwide this month.

Tsikot.com Philippines

The Toyota Vios was the best-selling car in 2009, accounting for almost a quarter of the 46,021 vehicles sold by top auto maker Toyota.

Preliminary data from Toyota showed that 11,981 units of its locally-assembled sedan were sold last year.

Toyota’s van, the Innova, also assembled in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, was the second biggest seller with 10,311 units sold in 2009.

All in all, the two models accounted for nearly half of Toyota’s sales in the Philippines last year.

Including the sales of Toyota’s luxury brand, Lexus, which sold 172 units last year, the Japanese car maker sold a total of 46,193 units in 2009.

Toyota accounted for nearly a third of the industry’s sales of new vehicles for last year, but has been losing share to the likes of Honda and Mitsubishi as well as Korean and Chinese auto makers.

The company ended 2008 with 38.2 percent of local new-vehicle sales, up from 36.9 percent in 2007.

Preliminary estimates give Toyota 34.9 percent market share in 2009.

Earlier, the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. said it aimed to grow sales by 4 percent this year, to 132,000 units, on increased demand for new vehicles sustained by remittances from abroad and the stable financing environment.

The chamber’s president, Elizabeth Lee, said during the group’s yearend briefing that the automotive industry exceeded its sales target of 125,000 units for 2009 by 2,000 units.

“We grew 2.3 percent in 2009. The strong sales started in September and the trend was sustained up to December.,’’ Lee said.

“A faster replacement rate due to typhoon Ondoy, sustained remittances, and the stable financing environment coupled with aggressive marketing by dealerships helped boost industry sales amid the difficult environment.’’’

by Elaine R. Alanguilan
Manila Standard Today

Tsikot.com Philippines

As vehicle sales continue to dip, Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. (TMPC) announced that they will be introducing improvements in their International Innovative Multipurpose Vehicles (IMV) soon.

In a statement, Toyota said that the new line is composed of the Hilux pick-up truck, Fortuner compact sport utility vehicle (SUV), and Innova multipurpose vehicle (MPV). The company said the improvement of the IMV aims to further strengthen the company’s number one position in the commercial vehicle segment.

The country’s top-selling commercial vehicle, the Innova, offers more convenience with an automatic up/ down power driver.

The Hilux, the country’s highest selling pick up truck, enhances its current line up with improvements which includes driver’s airbag, seatbelt warning, 4 spoke steering wheel, power doorlocks, and front fog lamps.

The new Fortuner’s comfort is ensured with its double wishbone front suspension system. Convenience is also prioritized with an automatic up/ down power driver window for all variants.

Despite the weak sales performance, the auto industry remains upbeat.

For January to August, industry sales stood at only, 82,081 units, down from 83,196 units sold during the same period the previous year.

However, the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI) said that they remain cautiously optimistic because the industry posted better year to date sales when compared to the previous month.

“We are thankful that sales improved though slightly in terms of year to date figures. The industry remains positive and is banking on continued and stronger OFW remittances which will spur consumption coupled with auto loans seen to grow as well in the coming months,” CAMPI president Elizabeth H. Lee said.

“So far, lower rates have helped auto sales, “she added.

Lee described August as a ghost month with August sales 8.8 percent lower than July.

By Ma. Elisa P. Osorio, The Philippine Star

Tsikot.com Philippines

Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP), the country’s largest automobile distributor, said the price of Innova may go up as a result of higher operational cost because the income tax holiday (ITH) being given by the government expired last March.

In an interview, TMP vice president Rommel Gutierrez said they have already asked the Board of Investments (BOI) for an extension of their four-year ITH to six years.

Gutierrez said that initially, BOI classified Innova as a non pioneer project. But given that it is an Asian vehicle, Gutierrez said that it can be re-classified as a pioneering project. Under the law, pioneer projects are given six years ITH, he said.

If the BOI does not grant their request, Gutierrez said the cost for producing the Innova will go up. Gutierrez said he is not certain as to how this will affect the product.

Innova is one of the two vehicles being produced in their Sta. Rosa plant. The other is Vios. Gutierrez said the ITH for the car is good for a couple more years.

Toyota has already reduced their production of Innova and Vios, the two vehicles assembled in their Sta. Rosa plant, by 10 percent. The move was done as a result of the slowdown in consumer demand worldwide.

Angel Dimalanta, president of the Automotive Industrial Workers Alliance (AIWA) said Toyota has removed one shift every week. Instead of producing Vios and Innova on their Laguna plant, Dimalanta said the workers were asked to do maintenance work.

Dimalanta said the Toyota Plant in Sta. Rosa operates five days a week. Each day is divided into two eight-hour shifts. He said one of the Monday shift has been cancelled since mid January.

According to Dimalanta, a total of 40 units are being produced each shift or 20 units of Innova and 20 units of Vios.

Before the cancellation of one of the Monday shifts, Dimalanta said the plant produces 400 units per week. He said he does not know till when the reduced shift will last. “There is no definite date. It will be like this until the market improves,” he said.

Target production for this year is 12,000 units.

When asked about the 10-percent reduction in production, Gutierrez said “our production continues with some rationalization of costs to manage our overhead.” Gutierrez refused to elaborate on the matter.

By Ma. Elisa P. Osorio, Philippine Star

Tsikot.com Philippines