Impact of rising oil prices
Last month, the automotive industry began to feel the full impact of the oil crisis caused by the Middle East war.
According to the combined sales report year-to-date (YTD) April 2026 of the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines (CAMPI) and Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA), various types of electric vehicles (xEVs) not only rose to 22% of total vehicle sales in April, 5 points higher than March, the total number of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) jumped by 2351.6% from 98 units sold YTD April 2025 to 2,579 units sold YTD April 2026. Jetour Auto led the PHEV market with 937 units sold YTD April 2026. (BYD is not included in the CAMPI-TMA sales report.)
At the same time, total sales of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) surgedd by 176.9% from 978 units sold YTD April 2025 to 2,708 units sold YTD April 2026. Newcomer Vinfast Auto topped the BEV list with 1,171 units sold YTD April 2026.
Sales of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) were reported as increasing by 115.3% from 5,744 units sold YTD April 2025 to 12,368 units sold YTD April 2026. Toyota Motor PH Corp. was the HEV market leader with 8,341 HEV units sold YTD April 2026.
Of the total xEV sales reported by CAMPI/TMA (excluding BYD), 70% were HEVs, 23% were PHEVs and 7% were BEVs.
The surge in sales of xEVs coincides with the International Energy Agency’s projecting that electric vehicles will account for around 45% of total vehicle sales in the Philippines by 2035. But the government, aiming to minimize the country’s dependence on imported oil, needs to implement stronger policies to support the xEVsector, according to the IEV.
The optimistic xEV sales update was countervailed by a significant decline in total vehicle sales. YTD April 2026, CAMPI/TMA reported that 32,400 units were sold, 17% lower month-on-month than March 2026 and 8% lower year-on-year (YOY)versus April 2025.
RESHUFFLED RANKINGS
As a result of this slowdown, the top 10 rankings of auto industry players were reshuffled with MG rising to no. 8, thus pushing Hyundai down to cellar-dweller no. 10 (see graph.) Saic Motors PH, Inc., which distributes MG, sold 2,707 units YTD April 2026, a 12.2% decline compared to the 3,082 units it sold YTD April 2025. The top 3 best-selling MG models are the MG5 (799 units sold), MG XS (703 units) and MG HS (372 units.)
Toyota remains the undisputed market leader with 66,206 units sold YTD April 2026 despite an 8.0% year-on-year (YOY) decline versus 71,927 units sold YTD April 2025.. The top 3 best-selling models of Toyota Motor Corp. PH are the Avanza (7,340 units sold), Hiace (6,761 units) and the Vios (6,235 units.)
Perennial runner-up Mitsubishi was the only other brand to register 5-digit sales (24,371 units) while sustaining an 18.1% YOY drop compared to 29,770 units sold YTD April 2025. Mitsubishi Motors PH Corp.’s top 3 best-selling models are the Xpander (7,960 units), L300 (5,180 units) and Destinator (3,357 units) with the Montero Sport close behind (3,174 units sold.)
Despite a 10.2% YOY decline in sales, Suzuki captured the coveted no. 3 perch by selling 6,289 units YTD April 2026. In YTD April 2025, Suzuki PH, Inc. sold 7,002 units. The top 3 best-selling models of Suzuki PH, Inc. are the S-Presso (2,658 units), Carry (907 units) and Jimny (667 units).
Among the top 10, Nissan suffered the biggest drop in YOY sales, but still managed to win the no. 4 rank by selling 5,323 units. That was a 34.9% YOY decline compared to 8,182 units Nissan sold YTD April 2025. The top 3 best-selling models of Nissan PH, Inc. are the Navarra (1,479), Terra (1,402) and Livina (843.)
Ford Motor Co. PH, Inc. stayed within the top 5 circle by selling 4,877 units YTD April 2026, which is 27.5% YOY lower than its registered sales of 6,728 units YTD April 2025. Ford’s top 3 best-sellers are the Territory (1,735 units), Ranger (1,349 units) and Everest (1,282 units.)
6TH TO 10TH PLACERS
Isuzu PH Corp. takes 6th place with 4,485 units sold YTD April 2026. YOY, that’s 19.8% less than the 5,595 units IPC sold YTD April 2025, but good enough to replace Honda Cars PH, Inc. at the no. 6 perch. Isuzu’s top 3 best-selling models are the Traviz (2,036 units sold), N-Series (866 units) and D-MAX (520 units.)
Honda Cars PH, Inc. managed an 18.7% YOY fall in sales from 5,458 units sold YTD April 2025 down to 4,440 YTD April 2026 to place 7th in total vehicle sales. Month-on-month, Honda sales plunged 68.3% from 1,488 units sold in March 2026 to 472 units sold in April 2026.
Kia, distributed by KP Motors Corp., placed 9th with 2,354 units sold YTD April 2026, an 18.1% YOY drop from 2,873 units sold YTD April 2025.
Hyundai Motor PH, Inc. ranks last among the top 10 after suffering a 24.8% YOY decline in sales to 2,307 units YTD April 2026 from 3,579 units YTD April 2025. Additionally, HMPI sustained a 50.9% fall in month-on-month sales from 603 units in March 2026 to 341 units in April 2026.
XPANDER AND OTHER BEST-SELLERS
The list of the top 3 best-selling models of the top 10 (except Honda, Kia and Hyundai, which did not submit their data) indicates that the Xpander, Mitsubishi’s compact 7-seater multipurpose vehicle, is still the country-s best-selling motor vehicle across all brands and segments. YTD April 2026, MMPC sold 7,960 units.
The Toyota Avanza, another compact MPV, runs a close second with 7,340 units sold, followed by another Toyota vehicle, the Hiace, a light commercial van, with 6,761 units sold. The hitherto overall sales champion Vios gets honorable mention for showing up with 6,235 units sold.
Among pickup trucks, the Nisan Navarra with 1,479 units sold, rules, followed by the Ford Ranger with 1,349 units sold. One wonders what happened to the Toyota Hilux, which was always one of the top 3 best-selling models of TMP.
When it comes to midsize SUVs, the Mitsubishi Montero Sport is no. 1 with 3,174 units sold. Second in sales is the Nissan Terra with 1,402 units sold while the Ford Everest is 3rd with 1,282 units sold. This time, TMP did not include the popular Fortuner in its top 3 best-selling models list.
Summing up, a lot of changes occurred in the auto industry last month, reflecting the evolving nature of the market.
