Best-selling car models sold Philippines 2023, by unit sales

The Toyota Vios was the leading car model in the Philippines, with approximately 38,000 units sold in 2023. The list was comprised mainly of two automotive companies - Toyota and Mitsubishi.

Toyota as a market leader

Across car brands, Toyota held nearly half of the total automotive market in 2023. Toyota Motor Philippines is a subsidiary of the Japanese brand Toyota. It is responsible for assembling and distributing vehicles such as the Toyota Innova and Vios as early as the 1980s. The company’s success was also reflected in the number of units it sold in 2023, two times more than its closest competitor Mitsubishi.

Car ownership in the Philippines

Although public transportation remains the most popular mode of traveling in the Philippines, the number of people who own a car has gradually increased. For some, car ownership is seen as a status symbol, especially since buying a car can be costly due to taxes, maintenance, and license renewals. For others, it is a way to avoid passenger congestion and irregularity in buses, jeepneys, and trains, especially in bigger cities. However, the volume of cars on the road has resulted in traffic congestion, especially in Metro Manila. In fact, in 2022, cars registered the second-highest daily average traffic volume in the city, right next to motorcycles.