DesRosiers Automotive Consultants (DAC) released its provincial sales numbers for January 2021, noting that Quebec saw an estimated sales decline of 39.1% during the month due to stricter lockdowns that saw many in-store retail businesses closed or partially closed and a curfew imposed across the province.
The sales decline in Quebec was far more than any other province. On the other extreme was Newfoundland, which experienced an increase of 24.0% in light vehicle sales — likely with a lower and in turn more volatile volume.
“January is a low volume and volatile month at the best of times,” said Andrew King, Managing Partner of DAC, “and COVID-related measures enacted by provincial governments have further exacerbated the normal fluctuations.”
In Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, the provinces managed an increase of 11.9% and 5.2% respectively, while in British Columbia the province started the year with a 4.5% sales increase.
Alberta saw a sales drop of 9.4%, and Ontario, which accounted for more than half of the sales decrease in 2020, saw its sales decline 19.7% in January 2021.
When combined, overall new light vehicle sales in January decreased 17.4% to an estimated 90,890 units sold — down from 109,988 units during the same period in 2020.
