By APD writer Melo M. Acuña
MANILA – With a market contraction in 2018, the Philippine automotive market ended the year 2019 with a 2.4% growth rate due to the traditional strong sales ever fourth quarter.
“As industry leader, it is Toyota’s role to drive the industry back to sustainable growth. We will continue to be this country’s solid partner in nation-building,” said Chairman Alfred V. Ty during the traditional Thanksgiving Dinner for the members of the media recently.
He said by year-end 2019, Toyota Motor Philippines paid a total of P384.3 billion in cumulative taxes since they began operations some 30 years ago.
He explained with the downturn in 2018, Toyota Motor Philippines kept its workforce of 2,195 Filipinos, “on top of those employed by its network of 71 dealers nationwide.”
Chairman Ty said they increased their efforts to stimulate the market by way of different customer service and value-added activities. The strategy resulted into the sales of 162,011 units and a share of 39.5% for the year. From this number, 54,028 were produced at the Toyota Motor Philippines’ Sta. Rosa manufacturing plant to boost their commitment to develop the local automotive industry.
The locally-assembled flagship passenger car, the Toyota Vios, which is part of the government’s Comprehensive Automotive Reform (CARS) program maintained its status as the country’s best-selling vehicle with 33,181 units sold.
The performance placed Toyota on track to deliver its commitment under the government’s program.
Incidentally, Toyota Motor Philippines and its media partners pledged P 2 million as aid to evacuees affected by the Taal Volcano eruption. The beneficiaries are temporarily housed in relief centers in Batangas and Laguna provinces.
The announcement was made during the Media Thanksgiving Dinner by TMP President-designate Atsuhiro Okamoto, in his first public appearance. The usually festive media appreciation dinner was scaled down to a simpler dinner gathering. The savings from the event formed part of the P2 million donation which were done in the name of the media practitioners in attendance.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)