The Philippine automotive industry continues to flourish and sustains growth momentum post-pandemic. This is most especially true in 2024 and at the start of 2025. Key automotive growth drivers are positive macroeconomic indicators that support purchases for big ticket items, including cars (tempered inflation, steadily high GDP growth rate, improving consumer confidence index), new market players and more aggressive push from smaller nameplates, wide variety of innovative model offerings, and more budget-friendly financing schemes that heighten overall appeal of car purchase.
Specific to market players, while top brand nameplates remain unchanged based on volume sales and market share, the face and pace of Philippine auto landscape are significantly changing. More and more brands (small yet established + newcomers) are catching up and growing fast, posing immense appeal and innovation threat to the long-established Japanese and American makes (Toyota, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Honda, and Ford). To name a few gamechangers, BYD, KIA, Hyundai, MG, GAC, Jetour, Foton, showed strong sales momentum in 2024 – a feat generally sustained at the start of 2025.
Aside from unit sales, the recent Manila International Auto Show 2025 (MIAS) is likewise a clear testament to the significant pivot in the evolution of the Philippine auto industry – participating brands are mostly Chinese brands that showcase the latest innovations in electrified vehicles (EV). This auto landscape dynamics happening in the country reflects a much larger scale mobility trend – i.e., “China” and “EV” as key forces driving the shifts in the industry.
Specific to market players, while top brand nameplates remain unchanged based on volume sales and market share, the face and pace of Philippine auto landscape are significantly changing. More and more brands (small yet established + newcomers) are catching up and growing fast, posing immense appeal and innovation threat to the long-established Japanese and American makes (Toyota, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Honda, and Ford). To name a few gamechangers, BYD, KIA, Hyundai, MG, GAC, Jetour, Foton, showed strong sales momentum in 2024 – a feat generally sustained at the start of 2025.
Aside from unit sales, the recent Manila International Auto Show 2025 (MIAS) is likewise a clear testament to the significant pivot in the evolution of the Philippine auto industry – participating brands are mostly Chinese brands that showcase the latest innovations in electrified vehicles (EV). This auto landscape dynamics happening in the country reflects a much larger scale mobility trend – i.e., “China” and “EV” as key forces driving the shifts in the industry.