MOTOR vehicle sales fell 4.7 percent in February, to 9,027 units from 9,474 in the same month last year, but assemblers said the decline was much smaller compared with the contraction in other markets.

Sales of passenger cars went up 1.2 percent but commercial vehicle sales dipped 7.7 percent, said Elizabeth Lee, president of the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc.

She said sales in February were up 2.7 percent from January, which was remarkable ?when compared to how other major markets are performing.? Vehicle sales plunged 41 percent the same month in the United States, she added.

February?s sales brought the total vehicles sold to 17,818 in the first two months of 2009, which was 2.5 percent lower than the 18,282 units sold in the same period a year ago.

?Although the year-to-date sales registered a slight 2.5-percent decline, we are hopeful that the increase in February sales was a positive sign indicative of a growth trend for 2009,? Lee said.

She said assemblers expected a 2-to-4-percent growth in sales this year.

Passenger cars comprised 35 percent of the total sales in February, and they were up 1.2 percent from a year ago?to 3,162 units?but down 6.6 percent from January?s 3,384.

?The introduction of some new models will continue to boost sales in the segment. Sales are expected to grow in the following months,? Lee said.

Commercial vehicle sales, 65 percent of the total, fell 7.7 percent to 5,865 units, but were up 8.5 percent from January?s 5,407.

Sales of Asian utility vehicles rose 24.7 to 2,153 units from 1,727 in January.

Sales of pickup trucks, vans, and compact wagons reached 3,531 units, with light truck sales increasing 17.4 percent from January.

Sales of trucks and buses were down 43.5 percent to 39 units in February and down 50 percent from a year ago.

Toyota Motors Philippines Corp. led all sellers with 3,057 units sold, or 33.9 percent of the total, though that was down 4.5 percent from a year ago.

Honda Cars Philippines Inc. sold 1,470 units, or 16.3 percent of the total, and up 24.2 percent from 2008.

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. sold 1,148 units, up 17.2 percent, for a 16-percent share.

Sales of Isuzu Philippines Corp. fell 23.5 percent to 667 units or 7.4 percent of the total. Sales of Hyundai Asia Resources Inc. were down 24.2 percent to 632 units for a 7.0-percent share.

Ford Motor Co. Philippines Inc. (Mazda) sold 539 units, Universal Motors Corp. 412, Columbian Autocar Corp. 245, Suzuki Philippines Inc. 161, General Motors Automobiles Philippines Inc. 138, Nissan Motor Philippines Inc. 132, Asian Carmakers Corp. (BMW) 56; PGA Cars Inc. (Porsche/Audi) 21, Scandinavian Motors Corp. (Volvo) 20, Columbian Motors Corp. 15, and Pilipinas Hino Inc. 14.

Dreamco and MAN Automotive Concessionaires Corp. had no sales in February. Roderick T. dela Cruz