Philippine commercial vehicle sales are expected to grow by at least 10 percent this year, but the shift to electric trucks and buses is likely to remain gradual as fleet operators grapple with charging, range and infrastructure constraints.
Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) President Robert Carlos said demand remains resilient because commercial vehicles are essential to moving goods and passengers.
“We are very optimistic. It’s still strong and stable,” Carlos said.
Commercial vehicle sales reached about 60,000 units in 2025, up roughly 38% from the previous year. First-half 2026 sales have already surpassed half of last year’s total, putting the industry on track for another year of expansion.
“We are hoping [for] at least 10% growth,” Carlos said, adding that the market could post further gains in 2027 if economic conditions remain favorable.
Electric trucks and buses, however, continue to make up only a small share of sales. For fleet operators, vehicle uptime remains critical, making charging time a key hurdle.
Battery swapping could help reduce downtime, but the infrastructure remains limited in the Philippines. Larger battery packs also present a trade-off: greater range can mean more weight and less payload for cargo.
“The more you have a longer range for electrification, the more you need to have battery packs,” Carlos said.
Against this backdrop, the TMA is pushing a “multi-pathway” approach to cutting transport emissions rather than relying solely on electrification.
All TMA members already offer Euro 4-compliant vehicles, while some have introduced Euro 5 models, Carlos said.
“ICE engines are evolving,” he said, arguing that cleaner internal-combustion engines, proper maintenance and eventual electrification can work together to reduce emissions without compromising the reliability commercial fleets require.
