Phl vehicle output zooms in Jan-Feb

The Philippines posted the second highest growth in motor vehicle production in Southeast Asia in the first two months of the year, with its output rising by more than a fifth.

- LOUELLA DESIDERIO

Data from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Automotive Federation (AAF) showed that 22,379 motor vehicles were assembled in the Philippines in the January to February period, 20.9 percent higher than the 18,510 units manufactured in the same period in 2023.

The Philippines placed second to Myanmar where motor vehicle production jumped by 541 percent during the two-month period to 314 units from the previous year's 49 units.

Malaysia also posted higher motor vehicle output in the January to February period as it produced 141,688 units, up by 15.8 percent from 122,325 units in the same period last year.

Countries that registered year-on-year declines in motor vehicle production were Indonesia (-20 percent), Thailand (-15.9 percent) and Vietnam (-15.7 percent).

ASEAN produced a total of 664,842 motor vehicles in the January to February period, down by 11.2 percent from the 748,402 units in the previous year.