Canada’s new light vehicle sales market grew 2.0 per cent in 2025 compared with the previous year, according to DesRosiers Automotive Consultants, even as the industry faced trade friction, regulatory pressure and a difficult fourth quarter.
That modest lift was enough to push average sales per dealer franchise back to 500 units nationally — the first time the market has reached that level in five years. Compared with the pandemic and immediate post-pandemic stretch, it marks a six-year high. Still, the industry remains well short of the 2017 record of 548 units per dealer.
“The new light vehicle sales market continued to grow in 2025 despite the spectrum of difficulties faced last year,” said Andrew King, managing partner at DAC, in a statement. “Dealers had to face tariffs, vehicle sales pauses, EV mandates, luxury taxes and numerous other barriers — but continued to work hard to deliver Canadians the vehicles they want to drive.”
Brand performance at the franchise level shows clear leaders. Toyota topped the country with an average of 876 units sold per dealer in 2025, well ahead of the pack. Lexus followed at 830 units. Audi ranked third at 744, with Subaru close behind at 739. Mercedes-Benz rounded out the top five at 656 units per dealer.
The return to 500 units may signal improved stability in supply and demand, while also highlighting how far the auto retail industry is from pre-pandemic highs. The path to 2017 levels may depend on affordability, policy clarity and inventory flow.
