MANILA, Philippines — Motor vehicle sales in January fell 20 percent over December 2011 spooked by the remaining effect of the Thai flooding coupled by the seasonally-lower sales in the first month of the year, preliminary data from the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI) showed.

The preliminary data showed there were 8,296 units sold in the first month of the year, 20 percent lower than the December 2011 sales of 10,374 units and 24.9 percent lower than the 11,050 units sold in January 2011.

Passenger car sales showed significant decline of 27.9 percent with January sales hitting only 2,214 units as against December sales of 3,072 units. Last month’s sales also posted a staggering 44.5 percent decline over January 2011.

Sales of light commercial vehicles (LCVs), the fastest selling vehicle segment, reached only 5,887 units last month versus the previous month’s 7,054 units, reflecting 16.5 percent decrease. This was also 12.5 percent lower than the 6,725 units sold in January 2011.

The trucks category was no different with January sales decreasing by 24 percent or 171 units versus the 225 units sold in December last year and 44.1 percent lower than the January 2011 sales of 306 units.

Sales of buses posted slight adjustments with December sales of 24 units from 23 in December last year and 27 in January 2011.

The ranking among the 14 CAMPI members has remained the same with Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. at the top for total sales of 3,127 units. Toyota’s January performance was 21.5 percent lower versus December last year’s 3,983 and 25.7 percent lower than January 2011’s 4,207 units.

Mitsubishi Motor Philippines Corp. finished second with 2,311 units sold to post a modest 0.3 percent increase over 2,305 units sold in January 2011. However, MMPC’s January 2012 sales figure was still 4.8 percent lower than December 2011 sales of 2,428 units.

All truck-assembler Isuzu Philippines Corp. posted total sales of 727 units in January or 29.3 percent down from 1,029 units in December and 5.2 percent lower than 766 units sold in January 2011.

Ford Group Philippines sold a total of 536 units in January posting a hefty 57.6 percent decline over 1,263 units sold in December last year and 41.9 percent lower than January 2011 sales of 922 units.