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CNMI auto sales continue decline
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Posted on Apr 04 2006
Total auto sales in the CNMI went down by 31 percent in March this year compared with the same month last year.
On a year-to-date basis, the decline is at 24 percent compared with the same period last year.
Statistics released by the Commonwealth Auto Dealer’s Association yesterday showed that car sales in March 2006 totaled 121 or 30.46 percent less than the 174 units sold in March 2005.
From January to March this year, local car dealers sold 330 units, a 23.79-percent decrease compared with the same period last year, which posted 433 sold units.
Based on the latest data, Microl Corp. leaped to the top with 53 units sold last month, cornering 44 percent of the market share.
Joeten Motors, which led the sales during the first two months of the year, sold 38 units last month, getting 31 percent of the market.
On year-to-date figures, Joeten and Microl are neck and neck with 124 and 123 units sold, respectively.
Tripe J Motors sold 30 cars last month, representing 25 percent of the market share. To date, Triple J has sold a total of 83 units this year.
Local dealers sold 68 sedans, 16 trucks, six vans, and 31 sports utility vehicles last month.
In terms of car models, CNMI motorists favored the Toyota Camry, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Echo, Mazda3, and Honda Civic last month.
Among the favorite trucks are Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier, and Ford Ranger.
With vans, motorists favored Mazda5 and GM vans.
With SUVs, motorists bought more Toyota RAV4, Mitsubishi Outlander, Suzuki Grand Vitara, and Toyota FJ Cruiser.
In terms of franchises, Toyota remains the top choice, with 46 units sold last month, cornering 34 percent of the market.
Other top brands are Nissan with 14, Mazda with 13, Ford with 10, Honda with eight, Mitsubishi and Hyndai with seven each, Kia and GM/Chevrolet with six each, Suzuki with three, and others, 1.
Microl Corp. sells Toyota and Chevrolet while Joeten Motors sells Nissan, Ford, Honda, and Kia.
Triple J Motors sells Hyundai, Mitsubishi, Isuzu, Suzuki, Subaru, and Mazda.
