Motorcycle sales may surpass pre-pandemic figures—MDPPA

By Othel V. Campos

PHILIPPINE

motorcycle sales posted a 16.7 percent increase based on a monthly average of 149,000 units in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the monthly average sales of 127,000 in 2022, the Motorcycle Development Program Participants Association, Inc. (MDPPA) announced Thursday.

MDPPA president Boying Mojica said the group is hoping that sales in 2023 will surpass the pre-pandemic sales of 1.7 million in 2019.

“We hope that the performance of the first quarter will be sustained. The market is so volatile as influenced by internal and external variables. Our conservative forecast this year is 10 percent growth, in light of the headwinds of imminent recession in the US and other regions,” said Monica.

Toyota Ilocos Sur promises bigger footprint for TMP up north

Greater mobility and affordability are the factors that continue to drive this increase in motorcycle sales. The group, composed of the country’s biggest motorcycle brands, reported sales hitting 447,429 units in the first quarter of 2023, which is 3,500 shy from total 2019 sales of 451,103 units.

Based on the report, the automatic category or scooters accounted for 60 percent of first-quarter sales this year with 269,652 units sold. This was followed by the business units at 28.6 percent or 83,616 units sold. Business units are usually used for commercial purposes.

Meanwhile, mopeds or underbone motorcycles took 17.2 percent of the total sales due to their affordability, with 77,152 units sold. The street and big bikes, commonly used for leisure and off-road adventure, account for 4 percent with 17,000 units sold.

MDPPA is the country’s biggest group of motorcycle manufacturers in terms of volume. The industry’s major players - Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha are the only members of the group.

The week that was

WE ATTENDED three significant automotive events in the course of a week, which somehow reoriented us to the reality of automobile ownership in this nation.

We are referring to the launch of the next-generation Ford Ranger Raptor (whose Ford Island Conquest real testdriving along with their latest Ford Ranger, Everest, and Territory is still ongoing at the off-road track at the Arca South in Taguig City) and the Suzuki S-Presso (a compact SUV-style vehicle that is now with an AGS or automatic gear shift). The third is the TransSport Show, which is still going on at Pasay City’s SMX Convention Center at Mall of Asia through tomorrow.

bringing in innovative automotive technology in such an accessible and enjoyable way. The Ford Raptor proved incredibly stable to drive and capable of tackling any terrain thanks to its very loaded 7 drive modes on and off the road. We drove it three times over the off-road course created by racing veteran and driving teacher Georges Ramirez. Even so, it has a very comfortable interior and plenty of comforts, from the sports seat with a jet-inspired design to the distinctive complete command console.

Present from left are: Randy Ang, group sales manager, Toyota La Union; Richmond So, general manager, Toyota La Union; Jasper Ong, executive vice president, Toyota Dagupan;

TOYOTA Ilocos Sur will soon serve the mobility needs of customers in Ilocos Region with its dealership rising in Barangay Langlangca II, Candon City, Ilocos Sur. This will be Toyota Motor Philippines’ (TMP) 74th outlet in the country.

Toyota Ilocos Sur will be a ‘3S’ Facility that provides sales, service, and spare parts. Situated in a 2-hectare lot, the dealership will have a total floor area of 5,868 sq.m. It will feature a 4-car display showroom and a workshop with 37 General Service & Body Repair Bays.

“We are confident that with the strong guidance of our next generation leaders and their team, along with the supervision and partnership with TMP, we can lead in offering the best possible customer experience in Ilocos Sur and further expand our market in the whole of Region 1,” said Rene So, President of Toyota Dagupan Inc.

Group during the groundbreaking event.

“With the construction of Toyota Ilocos Sur, Toyota looks to maintain its position in the industry as the topof-mind car brand. We are excited to welcome this new dealership as we create mobility and happiness for all our customers in the province of Ilocos Sur,” said TMP Senior Vice President for Marketing Division Masando Hashimoto.