Honda Cars PH sells over 16k units in 2023, BR-V leads the fray
2023 was a record-breaking year for the Philippine car industry.
According to the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc., which is the country’s largest organization of carmakers, there was 429,807 vehicles sold last year. This is up 21.9 percent from the year 2022.
Among the winners in 2023 was Honda Cars Philippines Inc. (HCPI). Company president Rie Miyake reported in a speech during HCPI’s thanksgiving party on Wednesday that it sold over 16,000 units.
“This was a 20-percent year-on-year increase from 2022,” said Miyake, who is the first woman at the helm of the Japanese carmaker.
Miyake added that the Honda BR-V seven-seat multi-purpose vehicle was the brand’s top seller with over 6,800 units sold last year. This was followed by the Honda City subcompact sedan with 3,400 units and the Honda Brio subcompact hatchback with over 2,500 units.
Bevy of new models
Even before Miyake’s appointment on March 2023, HCPI had already kicked off the year strong with the launch of the all-new Honda Civic Type R.
The scintillating, five-seat hatchback is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve inline-4 gasoline engine pumping out 320 horsepower and 420 Nm of torque. This is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission with an electronic limited-slip differential.
Updated versions of the City and Brio were also launched on July 2023, with the City incorporating the carmaker’s highly innovative Honda SENSING active-safety suite.
Going all-in for EVs
In addition, HCPI launched the all-new Honda CR-V compact crossover on September 2023.
The CR-V also marked the Japanese carmaker’s return to the hybrid-electric market in the Philippines. The top-spec CR-V e:HEV is powered by a 2.0-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve inline-4 gasoline engine mated to an electric motor for a combined output of 184 horsepower and 355 Nm of torque.
Miyake said the company sold over 700 CR-V units in 2023, with around one in three units being the e:HEV variant. HCPI is pushing harder to introduce electrified models in the Philippines, especially with incentives provided by Republic Act 11697 or the “Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act.”
Miyake emphasized Honda Cars’ commitment to full electrification by the year 2040. This is also the same year that the Philippine government is targeting for the sale of solely battery-electric vehicles in the new-car market.
