AUTOMAKERS are on track to meet this year's sales target, the head of an industry group said, having already hit 70 percent as of end-September.

"We're on track ... it seems like it's possible," Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (Campi) President Rommel Gutierrez told reporters, referring to the goal of selling 468,300 units for 2024 and the aspirational target of 500,000.

"If not this year, most likely next year because we're almost there," he added.

Latest Campi data show that 344,307 units had been sold from January to September, 9.4 percent higher than 314,843 sold in the same period last year.

A total of 429,807 units were sold last year, surpassing the target of 423,000.

For 2025, Gutierrez projected growth of around 10 percent for the domestic automotive sector, adding that the industry was focusing on increasing local production capacity to over 100,000 units per year.

The Campi chief said that new product launches and a holiday boost would drive sales, but also called for government support via initiatives similar to the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) program implemented during the Aquino administration.

"We have always been telling [the] government that CARS program is a good program," Gutierrez said. "So if you need to extend or even come up with a new support program, we would prefer something like CARS."

He said the industry was optimistic of receiving government assistance, noting that it was "supportive of manufacturing [and] I'm sure they're looking at various incentive schemes..."

With increasing attention towards shifting to zero carbon emissions, the Campi chief also reiterated optimism about local prospects for electric vehicles (EVs).

Amid concerns that the required infrastructure is still lacking, he said that while home charging was an option, public charging stations and its strategic placement are crucial, particularly for long-distance travel.

Last week, Guiterrez said that EV sales were set to exceed the 10,000 units sold in 2023 for both hybrid and pure EVs, especially with the introduction of new vehicle models.

The Campi chief last week also pushed for enhanced and permanent EV incentives, such as maintaining a zero tariff on EV imports until 2028, to ensure stability in the market.

Gutierrez called for a more integrated approach to incentives, adding that there should be no distinction between pure EVs and hybrids as both played important roles in the transition to cleaner transportation.

Also on Thursday, Trade Undersecretary and Board of Investments managing head Ceferino Rodolfo said that guidelines for the EV Incentive Strategy (EVIS) could be released before the end of the year.

The initiative aims to narrow the cost gap between EVs and traditional motor vehicles, provide fiscal and non-fiscal support to attract EVs and EV parts manufacturing companies, and set local production targets that aim to be achieved within 8 years.

The Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act, which became law in 2022, mandates the Department of Trade and Industry, via the BoI, to recommend the EVIS and also establish a selection process for enrollment and qualification of participants.

Proposed incentives include subsidies for EV purchases and the installation of charging infrastructure at homes, trade-in bonuses and rental subsidies.