Based on data compiled by DesRosiers Automotive Consultants, it would seem that Canadian new vehicle sales are on track for a record year. Totals last month reached 175,428 units, beating the previous June record last year of 171,608.
Canadians still appear to love their trucks — sales of 97,876 units for the month represented 57.7 per cent of the total light vehicle market in June (up from 55.7 per cent last year), while passenger car demand continued to decline — sales of 77,552 units were down by two per cent compared with the same period in June 2013, even despite the fact that gas prices have been creeping steadily upward.
Among individual brands, particular strong gainers (certainly in percentage terms) occurred among niche players, with Porsche, smart and Volvo seeing encouraging numbers over June last year (Porsche deliveries were up 66 per cent, smart by 36.6 per cent and Volvo 26.8 per cent).
Land Rover also posted solid percentage gains — 36 per cent with 581 units sold (versus 381 in June 2013). Sister brand Jaguar, after seeing solid growth through the course of the year, actually saw demand slide in June, sales were down 1.2 per cent compared with the same period year earlier.
Lexus also performed well among luxury brands — 1,521 units represented a bump of 18.3 per cent compared with a year earlier.
Nissan continued to be a hot performer among mainstream marques — 10,561 deliveries represented a whopping 28.9 per cent up on the 8,196 units sold last June. Mazda also witnessed solid growth — sales of 6,415 units representing a 14.2 per cent gain, aided by refreshed core product offerings.
In terms of overall volume, the Detroit three automakers remained on top but while Ford posted the highest number of units sold for the month — 30,846 (a 7.5 per cent increase over last June), rival Chrysler Canada continued to see the largest gains in terms of year-to-date sales (145,504 — a five per cent increase, versus Ford’s 143.070 — the latter actually a 2.4 per cent decline from last year).
General Motors, after witnessing modest gains earlier this year, saw demand slump a little in June — 21,007 units represented a 15 per cent decline over the same period in 2013, despite a plethora of new or significantly refreshed models in its lineup this year.
As we enter the second half of 2014, it would appear new vehicle sales remain very much on track to setting another record — in fact, with year-to-date sales of 908,094 units, demand is significantly ahead of where it was this time in 2013 (883,667). Let’s hope the momentum continues.
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