In Q2, the SUV spectrum accounted for 47.1% of the light vehicle market share in Canada — up from 45.3% in the second quarter of 2019 — although performance among certain segments was mixed, according to an update from DesRosiers Automotive Consultants (DAC).
Large pickup trucks took 23.1% of total light vehicle sales in Q2 2020 during the lockdown period and amid uncertainty around the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, the share was 19.1% in Q2 2019. Small pickup trucks saw their share rise from 2.1% to 3.5%, an “even more remarkable story” according to DAC.
As for the luxury market, which includes both luxury passenger cars and light trucks, this segment performed well and accounted for 11.5% of the market — up from 11.2% in Q2 2019. DAC said this was “An interesting development considering luxury sales can be more sensitive to economic downturns.”
“Even amidst the uncertainty, the trend of increasing light truck sales to decreasing passenger car sales continued with most passenger car segments losing share,” said DAC.
On the compact, intermediate, and subcompact passenger car side, these segments experienced significant declines in market share between Q2 2019 and Q2 2020, while passenger cars fell to only 21.4% in Q2 of this year.
Total new light vehicle sales for Q2 of 2020 were down nearly 45%.
