Quebec finally pulled ahead of its 2024 provincial sales numbers, a recent DesRosiers Automotive Consultants update shows.
La belle province shifted back into positive territory in May 2025 thanks to 6.5% sales increase, with new light vehicle sales up 0.3% year-to-date. The boost came after the province experienced a sales pullback earlier in the first quarter of the year as zero-emission vehicle sales collapsed. That has somewhat abated.
“The province was still one of the weaker performers for the month — along with British Columbia with a 4.2% sales increase and Ontario up 6.6% — as the first impacts of the trade war with the U.S. start to be seen in the market,” said DAC in its update.
On the other end of the sales spectrum, the Atlantic region continued to outperform the overall market. Nova Scotia, PEI, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland enjoyed sales increases, up 24.3%, 18.8%, 14.3%, and 14.3%, respectively.
In the prairies, Saskatchewan and Manitoba also experienced growth, while Alberta just managed to pull ahead of the overall market with an 8.3% sales increase for May.
“Hopes are rising for a trade deal with the U.S., although this is still far from certain,” said Andrew King, Managing Partner at DAC, in a statement. “Until then, the twin implications of the trade war in terms of reduced economic growth and the impact of the Canadian counter tariffs will increasingly be seen in the market.”
Overall DAC said Canada experienced an estimated new light vehicle sales increase of 7.9% in May, up from 174,000 to 187,000 units sold. Year-to-date, the country saw a 5.6% sales increase.
