Survey shows Subcompact Vehicles are best sellers

Sport utility vehicles may be outselling passenger cars in most markets around the world, but over here subcompact vehicles are still the best-sellers.

The popularity of subcompact and mini subcompact vehicles in various configurations – sedan, hatchback, crossover – was indicated in a survey conducted of the Best-selling Nameplates among the Top 10 1st Half 2019 Performers Based on Vehicle Sales.

The undisputed primary example is the Toyota Vios, which has reigned supreme as the best-selling motor vehicle in this country across all categories and segments, for many years.

As of year-to-date May 2019, twelve thousand two hundred ninety five (12,295) units of Toyota Motor Philippines’ (TMP) locally assembled flagship subcompact sedan had been sold.

TMP claims that the Vios accounted for a quarter of the total 50,097 passenger car sales as of end-May 2019.

17 OUT OF 41. Meanwhile, scanning the 41 best-selling nameplates listed by the Top 10 Performers reveals that the majority, or 17, are mini subcompact or subcompact vehicles.

Because of a guideline imposed by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) disallowing the release of sales data per model, some of the Top 10 submitted their best-selling lists without the corresponding numbers.

Among the Top 10, the brand with the biggest number of subcompact nameplates is Suzuki, which is known globally as a specialist in small cars.

Of the five nameplates listed by Suzuki Philippines, Inc., four are subcompacts: the Swift hatchback, Celerio mini subcompact sedan, Dzire sedan and Vitara crossover.

The Ertiga, a seven-seater MPV, could be classified as either a compact or subcompact.

PERCENTAGES. Suzuki went around the CAMPI restriction by listing the percentage of total sales of each nameplate. Since CAMPI in its first half 2019 sales report gave the total vehicle sales of each CAMPI member and Suzuki’s was 10,817, it was easy to compute the number of units sold per model.

The Ertiga was the leading nameplate of Suzuki, with 34 percent of total sales or 3,678 units sold in the first semester this year.

Incidentally, Suzuki is one of the three brands that increased market share this first semester, versus the same period in 2018, thereby enabling it to overtake Honda and grab sixth place.

The two other brands that registered positive growth in the first half of 2019 are third placer Nissan, and fourth placer Hyundai.

2 EACH. Among the Top 10, aside from Suzuki, the brands that named at least two subcompact/mini subcompact vehicles as their best-selling nameplates are Toyota (Vios and Wigo), Mitsubishi (Mirage G4 and Mirage hatchback), Nissan (Almera and Juke), Hyundai (Accent, Reina and Kona), and Honda (City, BR-V and Brio.)

Ford had only one best-selling subcompact nameplate, the mini subcompact crossover EcoSport (1,020 units sold in the first semester this year).

6 OUT OF 41. Next to the subcompact, the midsize SUV and pickup truck were the most marketable vehicles in the first half of 2019.

Six of the 41 best-sellers are midsize SUVs: Toyota Fortuner, Mitsubishi Montero Sport, Nissan Terra (5,405 units sold), Ford Everest (2,919 units sold), Isuzu mu-X and Chevrolet Trailblazer.

Six are pickup trucks:

Toyota Hilux, Mitsubishi Strada, Nissan Navara (9,591 units sold), Ford Ranger (6,836 units sold), Isuzu D-Max and Chevrolet Colorado.

Did the Nissan Navara outsell the Toyota Hilux in the first half of the year?

We will never know since TMP, obeying CAMPI’s guideline, would not reveal the Hilux’s sales data in the first half of 2019.

All we know from a recent TMP press release is that as of YTD May 2019, 8,723 units of the Hilux had been sold, making it the second best-selling Toyota nameplate.

BOTTOM LINE. Subcompact vehicles are the top-selling market segment in this country since they are affordable, practical, and comparatively economical to operate and maintain.

With the easy car loan terms being offered by commercial banks, many consumers are buying subcompact vehicles not only for personal use, but also for business purposes as TNVS (Transport Network Vehicle Services) units.

The saying goes that the segment to which a country’s best-selling car belongs, reflects the economic level its people have attained.

Draw your own conclusions if BMWs are the best-selling cars in Singapore, while subcompact vehicles are our best sellers.