Philippine vehicle sales fell 8% in June, dragging first‑half sales down 11.4% amid weak demand, according to industry data.
June sales reached 37,231 units, down from 40,483 a year earlier, but rose 11% from May's 33,532 units.
The June figure was the highest since December's 42,870, and the 8% annual decline was the smallest since February's 6.6% contraction.
Including broader industry metrics, total vehicle sales for June were estimated at 42,000 units, an 18.7% increase from the previous month.
For the January‑June period, total sales slipped to 204,557 units from 230,912 a year earlier, an 11.4% decline.
Passenger car sales fell 11.3% to 40,503 units, while commercial vehicle sales declined 11.4% to 164,054 units, with all segments showing reductions.
The industry association president expects a rebound in the second half as new electric and internal‑combustion models enter the market.
Passenger cars, representing 21.65% of total sales, rose 16.5% year‑on‑year to 8,061 units in June and 20.5% month‑on‑month from 6,692 units.
Commercial vehicles, accounting for 78.35% of sales, fell 13.1% year‑on‑year to 29,170 units, yet rose 8.7% from May's 26,840 units.
Within the commercial segment, light commercial vehicle sales dropped 14.9% to 21,709 units, while Asian utility vehicle sales slipped 5.4% to 6,812 units.
Light‑duty and medium‑duty truck sales fell sharply, down 31.8% and 20.7% to 363 and 215 units respectively, while heavy‑duty trucks increased 22.4% to 71 units.
Analysts attribute the June decline to high borrowing costs and geopolitical uncertainty, which have made households more cautious about discretionary spending.
The month‑to‑month improvement is linked to mid‑year promotions and better vehicle availability, according to a senior research fellow.
Forecasts suggest modest growth in the second half, tempered by global uncertainties that could affect consumer confidence and financing conditions.
Expectations for the remainder of 2026 include modest sales growth supported by
