Philippines to become major car market by 2020

The Philippines is poised to become a major automotive market in Southeast Asia by 2020 as domestic sales are expected to continue posting stellar growth while local production is seen ramping up with the government’s Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) program.

Local industry players see the Philippine automotive market pumping in sales, accounting for eight to 10 percent of the total vehicle sales in the region by 2020.

By 2020, sales of the automotive market within member economies of the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) are projected to reach five to six million units, with Thailand and Indonesia still seen as leaders in the region.

The Philippines, however, will become an important automotive market growth area in the region as volume of vehicles sold is expected to zoom to 500,000 units by 2020, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. first vice president and corporate secretary Dante Santos said.

Santos said the Philippine automotive market, although small from a regional perspective, has been experiencing unprecedented sales growth in the last five years


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One of the biggest changes I've witnessed during the past 15 years is that of car ownership.

I can well believe the prediction in the above report.
Here in Davao it seems that the SUV is becoming king of the road

Always tickles me when I see the numerous vehicles with "Hows My Driving?" on the rear.

Seriously..... are you ****ting me ??

I did ask about the numerous Trikes with 1 or no lights, its cheaper to pay an on spot fine than to buy a bulb.

Only in the Philippines

we will be able to shift container loads of old bangers over there. many still got years of life in them--just worth nothing over here.

oh--sod it--the thieves will be after my 2 old uns now.

I understood that wealthy families circumvent by buying 2 vehicles.

oh---they drive on the wrong side of the road then ?

Well they start off on the wrong side off the road, after that its anybodys guess

Dont worry the sounding of the horn sorts it all out

I always thought they drove in the shade

Don't know if there'll ever be a kind of MOT. That would be a big hit against PUV's not private cars.

The first step IMO is to introduce a proper driving test and highway code

TBH when I drive in Mindano, although the city centres are absolute chaos like General Santos, Koronadal and Davao, it does seem to work quite well, there is no right of way, you just push out onto a main rd until someone stops, you could not do it here in the UK. The worst thing for me is the amount of vehicles with no lights and no brake lights. The roads are in good repair (generally) and nice and straight. I am told that if the authorities tightened up on the Busses and Trikes the cities would come to a complete halt.

There is a highway code and you can pick up a copy at the LTO and (sometimes) National Book Store. Unless it's "out of stock of course"!

That's interesting. Thanks for the info. I'll try and get hold of a copy.
Finally I've decided it's time we got ourselves some transport. My wife has a contact to someone 'rush' selling their Montero Sport.
Yes I do know all about this "sudden unintended acceleration" nonsense. Load of twaddle.
However, great leverage for me to secure the best deal ever.

I'd be wary of buying a used Montero Sport - known in the UK as the Shogun Sport. Mitsubishi isn't as popular a marque down here as it is further north in Manila or even Cebu and its dealership appears to be very much a moveable feast. Some say it's on JP Laurel, Lanang midway between Abreeza and SM Premier, and others point to an unmarked showroom on MacArthur Avenue (just north of Wilcon in Matina); whilst both places do have some cars "on show" neither appear to be actually open for business. And I can confirm - being a former Pajero (Shogun) owner - that Mitsubishi spares can be hard to impossible to obtain locally. Most Monteros and Pajeros sold in the Philippines were assembled here and have problems affecting their wiring looms - which often results in batteries having to be frequently replaced. If you want a reliable SUV, you'd be much better off getting a Toyota Fortuner and I've recently seen some cracking good low mileage models priced at around the P900,000 mark (check-out the car lots opposite SM City on Ecoland Drive). Get the V rather than the G model, if you can.

Word to the wise. Whatever car you buy, do make sure its registration plate either starts with the letter "L" or, if one of the new "A" plates, that it is registered in Region XI. Two reasons for this. There are quite a number of SUVs - and other expensive vehicles - stolen in the NCR and put up for sale here with dodgy documents and the fact that the vehicle is stolen property only comes to light when you (try to) register it at the LTO as its new owner - they will seize the vehicle and you will be out of pocket. Also, the local LTO in Davao will only accept and re-register vehicles that were originally registered in Region XI.

Thanks for taking the time to comment Mark, always appreciated.

The car has perfect 'provenance' as does the owner.
In addition to pristine condition and faultless service records etc I'll only pay a 'mates rate' price with 5 digits

The owner owes me a big favour.
The car is currently in Manila and we are considering a touring holiday to bring it here ourselves
Sounds exciting.

What issues will I face with LTO ?

But I do take on board what you've mentioned about dealership, parts and potential electrical issues. I will do some serious research and talk to other owners in our village.
Thanks again

The LTO issue is that you may find you can not register it in Davao City and will have to make an annual pilgrimage to Cotobato where, I'm told, they will register anything that has 2 or more wheels! But, but, .... Cotobato is in the "bad lands" and not considered safe for us whities to visit. The alternative is to pay an agent to do your annual registration but this will be costly as it will undoubtedly involve more than one trip - certainly if the LTO decides to issue your car with a new (black on white) plate.

If you're intending to drive it down the coastal highway, then you'll need to do the change of ownership before you leave Manila so that the documentation is up to date, showing you as the owner, as you will pass through several check-points enroute. And with Manila plates, you're in danger of attracting some attention from the local Highway Patrol too.

If you decide to do this gentleman a favour by relieving him of the burden of ownership of his Montero Sport, do first take it to the PNP vehicle inspectorate closest to where it resides in Manila and have it's identity confirmed (engine and chassis number rubbings) and the PNP will then issue a certificate to state that it doesn't appear to have been stolen (LTO will require that certificate and the rubbing tapes to change the ownership). Then, and only then, should you sign the Deed of Sale - of which 5 copies will be required, you retaining one.
If it has a diesel engine, then you would be well-advised to change the timing chain at 100,000 km but this is neither quick nor inexpensive for Mitsubishis as, unlike modern Toyota engines, the timing chain is internal to the engine. If it goes of its own accord, s**it happens, you'll need a whole new engine.