Demand for Isuzu’s ‘big boys’ push up vehicle firm’s PH sales

THE MU-X’S bold chrome grille, chiseled lines and eye-catching silhouette is a visual match for the latest crop of SUVs

MANILA, Philippines–Isuzu Philippines Corp. continued to chalk up a strong sales performance last month as it set a new monthly record of 1,813 units in February, driven largely by the rising demand for its “big boys.”

This volume brought the company’s total sales to 3,040 units in the first two months of the year—up 56 percent from the 1,949 units sold in the same period of 2014. Sales from the January to February period were led mainly by the Isuzu mu-X and the N-series trucks.

IPC president Nobuo Izumina said the sales performance in the first two months of the year reflected the company’s “strong product lineup … made up of various vehicles with specific purposes,” and which offered “great value for money.”

Izumina said the company expected better sales in the months ahead, especially its best-selling Isuzu Crosswind AUV.

According to IPC, the all-new Isuzu mu-X rolled out 1,500 units for January and February 2015, reflecting a big jump from the 78 units sold of its predecessor, the Isuzu Alterra, in the same period last year.

The Isuzu N-Series light-duty truck also flexed its muscle, having sold 538 units in the first two months—up from the 390 units sold a year ago. Also, sales of IPC’s trucks and buses similarly rose by 267 percent to 44 units during the same period.

The brisk sales performance of the three models had helped offset the huge 47.4 percent drop in the sales of the Isuzu Crosswind AUV to 470 units in the first two months, from the 894 units sold a year ago. The D-Max pick-up truck also suffered a 15-percent drop in sales during the same period.

This year, IPC expects total vehicle sales to reach 8,000 units, the bulk of which may come from the sale of the mu-X. The rest will come from the Crosswind, D-Max, and trucks. –Amy R. Remo