I would think that the base was unusually high last year due to the impending implementation of the excise tax on vehicles. Dealers hyped that thing for a year and a half and scared many clueless consumers into buying early. On hindsight, it may not have been so bad since even if the tax increase wasn't so big for cars below P1.5M, we also now have to contend with higher prices due to the weakening peso.

If anything, the next few months' year-on-year contraction rates may be even worse. But perhaps the picture won't be so bad if we compare 2018's figures to 2016's?

O, saan na mga tax-exempt electric vehicles!? Eto na chance nila. He he....